About

The Cardigan River & Food Festival is back on 16th August 2025. Now in its 25th year, it was set up to celebrate the quality and diversity of food and drink producers in the immediate locality and wider Wales, thereby stimulating trade and social activity in the town. It was founded by Menter Aberteifi, a grass roots not for profit organisation based in Cardigan that is dedicated to regenerating the area for the benefit of the community. 

The festival has since evolved into a widely anticipated and established community event. It attracts around 6,000-8,000 visitors annually to Cardigan – a mixture of local residents and tourists. 

Over the years it has grown dramatically, and is now held in the centrally located Quay St car park. The site hub is the Food Court – a large marquee surrounded by street food stalls adjacent to the river, with seating provided for 120 people and a fully equipped stage. From here, a varied programme of local musicians and performers, entertain the crowds throughout the day. 

The upper-level Food Market features a range of stalls selling exclusively Welsh produced food and drink and local crafts. There are a mixture of presentations and participatory workshops for adults and children. 

On the River Teifi we showcase boat trips, RNLI demonstrations, professional paddle boarding and water-based spectacles that partner numerous local charities and organisations.  

The festival continues to grow and diversify. It draws interest from an increasing number of new businesses that focus on sustainability and nutrition, and for many traders this event provides crucial income. They feedback on its distinctly welcoming atmosphere and that it is the highlight of their festival year. Many exhibitors have returned annually since the festival’s inception in 1999.