Pembroke Festival's got the wow factor - David Petersen well known Welsh Sculptor opened the Festival last Friday with an emphatic plea to utilise the history of the area more - including the little know, but famous, Princess Nest.
Also famous that night was the Dowlais Male Voice Choir, who truly wowed the audience with their perfection.
The following day on Pembroke's South Quay, it was a glowing wow on children's faces as Carradog the Magic Man bemused them with tricks. This was all part of the River Water Festival which featured some new attractions this year. A local produce market on the North Quay was home for the day for Bethesda Fresh Farm Meats from Narberth, and ice creams from Upton and Honey Farm. PLANED hosted an exhibition 'From Smells to Smiles', an exploration and explanation of how all basic produce ends up on the table. Country Markets sold out of products, and cream tasting was a delight to many.
Also new for this year was an autumn plant and shrub fair set along the wonderful Millpond Walk. All the nurseries said they would certainly come again.
That night, 350 people attended the Pembroke Castle Rock Night where there was music on tap from Elephant Gerald and old time rockers, Legless. The Quaynotes Choir were also in Pembroke that night at St. Mary's for renditions of light opera and songs from the shows.
On Sunday, the festival attractions included poetry and writing workshops, Knights et Armis at the Castle, and the now famous Commotion on the Commons.
An audience of 300 enjoyed seven different bands and an assortment of their own style picnics which included an umbrella topping, but they were all totally undaunted by the rain.
That day's wow factor was a circus workshop when even the adults got in on the action. The final star of the day was the Second International Welsh Celtic Fiddle Competition.
All the competitors had worked hard since Friday when workshops had begun at the National Trust Stackpole Centre.
On the night, six juniors and five adults took part. Apart from cheques to first, second and third winners and a glass bird for juniors and a plate for adults, from Pembrokeshire Glassblowing, David Petersen, Welsh sculptor and great enthusiast for the fiddle competition presented a perpetual trophy, he had hand-made for the winner of the adult section. This year it went to Jo Cooper from Jameston.
Monday evening saw a musical drama presentation by Anita Adams, daughter of a Pembroke family. Anita's company Make Room Productions from Yorkshire presented 'Jodi Jodi', a story of a young woman learning to love, and finding it very confusing.
Tonight (Friday), the festival moves on to a Celtic Night in Pembroke Castle at 7.30 pm. Billings include Pembroke's homegrown talent Rainkings, Heather Dale a singer-songwriter with Celtic roots from Canada, and headlining the night, Celtish, coming in from Cardiff with their special blend of passionate ballads and rousing jigs and reels. Tickets on the door are £6. Also tonight, Anita Adams presenter of the 'Jodi Jodi' evening, shows off her skills as director, with a performance by Pembroke's Bush School of a Youth Musical. With the age range from 14 to 17, they have created and titled the musical themselves. 'Hollywood Effect' takes to the stage at 7 pm in Bush School. Tickets are available from Pembroke Bookshop, Main Street, for £3.
The festival closes tomorrow (Saturday) with the usual panache of Commotion on the Commons and the Grand Festival Parade and Finale.
The Commotion begins at 12 noon, and again, seven different bands appear along with the winner of the Battle of the Bands. The circus workshops are back, as well as all the stalls. The music will continue through until 7 pm when the finale begins. The parade itself will go from Monkton bridge to the Commons Stage area, and comprise magical mythical figures and creations by local school children, with the aid of Sand Palace Arts.
On stage with the music will be, Claire Cavender weaving some exciting spells into her storytelling and songs, then the Real Macaws, followed by Kardomah, which will set the scene for the fireworks at 9 pm, a wonderful lighting display of the commons prepared by 23-year-old local boy, Matthew Davis.