On Saturday, October 25, the Rhayader Dragon Festival, coordinated by local community arts organisation CARAD, roars back into town and promises to bring with it a week of fun things for the whole family to do, see, eat and drink.

The festival is a celebration of all things dragons and first took place back in 2016, created by CARAD alongside its ‘museum with a twist’ - TimeScape Rhayader.

This year’s week-long programme of activities at CARAD / TimeScape Rhayader is set to be a real fiery treat for the whole family, with a family fun day, arts workshops, additional museum opening hours, and even a puppet show.

Activities include:

• Saturday, October 25 (10:30am – 4pm)– the family fun day at TimeScape Rhayader – arts and crafts for all PLUS a special stall selling gifts handmade by CARAD / TimeScape’s super talented volunteers

• Saturday. November 1 (2:30pm) – Rhayader The Puppet Musical performed by Ragged Edge Productions

• A course of five creative workshops throughout the week for young people, looking at identity (courtesy of BBC Children in Need funding)

• Additional opening hours at TimeScape Rhayader – Tuesday, October 28 to Saturday, November 1 with extra activities

Local businesses across Rhayader are also getting involved in their own unique way, from being part of the town-wide dragon trail, through to staging their own events and selling dragon themed food and drink. Some of the organisations and businesses taking part include:

• Elan Valley Visitors’ Centre – they’ve organised a special dragon and pumpkin themed trail around the woods

• Art Metal – they have made a number of small dragons and will be hiding them inWaen Capel Parc

• Croeso Group – their hospitality establishments are selling various dragon themed food and drink items

• Narrative Coffee – they are about to reveal a mystery event; check out their social media for details

• Hills Walking Outdoor Ltd – hunt for dragons in the shop to win a prize

• Quillies arts and crafts gift shop – begin the Rhayader town dragon trail hunt fromhere; collect your form and off you go - prize and certificate for those finishing

• Watsons the Butcher – sample their fiery dragon sausages

• The fire station – a spooky Halloween event

Chair of Trustees and Co-Director Cath Allan said: “The Rhayader Dragon festival has taken many forms since the first one back in 2016 and bringing this year’s to life has been an absolute joy. It’s always been a great event for the community and I’d especially like to extend my thanks to our local businesses who have come on board too!

“We are incredibly grateful to Postcode Community Trust, BBC Children in Need, the ‘Night Out’ scheme, Museum’s Federation Cymru for their generous grants which enable us to continue to provide arts and creative activities for the whole community to enjoy.

“We’re all looking forward to welcoming everyone to this year’s Rhayader Dragon Festival, as does our very own 14ft long dragon, Queen Belrenin!”

For more details, please visit: www.carad.org.uk/whats-on