Hay on Wye Festival
The dates for next year’s Festival are Thursday 27 May to Sunday 6 June 2010.
Events 2010 {Select for all Hay on Wye events 2010}
Christy Moore in concert Event [901] Friday 28 May 2010, 9.30pm Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion. An evening with the legendary singer, guitarist and songwriter – Ireland's great folk hero and one of the world's most accomplished entertainers. His latest album is Listen (April 2009).
Roddy Doyle talks to Helena Kennedy The Dead RepublicEvent [904] Saturday 29 May 2010, 5.30pm Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion. In his first visit to Hay, the Booker Prize winning novelist discusses the final part of his Henry Smart trilogy, which maps C20th Ireland through A Star Called Henry, Oh, Play That Thing and now The Dead Republic
Brian May & Elena Vidal A Village Lost and FoundEvent [906] Thursday 3 June 2010, 7.30pm Venue: Cinema. A Village Lost and Found presents an exquisite set of stereo photographs showing the life of a single Oxfordshire village 150 years ago.
Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall Event [905] Saturday 5 June 2010, 11.30am Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilio. The 2009 winner of the Man Booker Prize discusses her fictional portrait of Thomas Cromwell.
Philip Pullman The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel ChristEvent [908] Saturday 5 June 2010, 7pm Venue: Barclays Wealth Pavilion. The creator of His Dark Materials discusses his new novel The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ with Peter Florence.
Every year, around 80,000 visitors flock to Hay on Wye for the town's annual literary festival. The 2009 Hay Festival took place from 21 May to 31 May. {Those requiring accommodation are advised to book early}
Around Hay on Wye
It could be said that there are more books than people in Hay on Wye! The town is a ‘mecca’ for second hand books and bibliophiles, which is why it appeals to so many authors, writers and historians.You will find over 30 bookshops covering just about any subject that you can think of, will you find that elusive book that you cannot find anywhere else ?
Hay on Wye, dominated by it's castle, lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the Black Mountains. Hay is a destination for bibliophiles, with over thirty bookshops, many selling specialist and second-hand books and is famous for the Festival.
The town is situated just within the Welsh side of the border with Herefordshire, England, which is defined by the Dulas Brook at this stretch. Where the brook joins the River Wye just to the north of the town, the border continues north along the river and has approximately 1,900 residents. The village of Cusop lies on the other side of the Dulas Brook and is in England.
In the 1960s, the first second hand book shop opened in Hay on Wye , and now the town has 30 bookshops selling mainly second hand books, with over a million books on different subjects on sale. An extension to this bookish activity is the Hay Festival of Literature, an annual event every May, where authors, writers, poets gather to talk and hear about literature. In recent years the festival has branched out to include music and entertainment as well as literature, although they always try to have some big name speakers from the world of literature.
With its location on the road to Brecon - once the most important town for miles around - Hay has a long history of providing food and lodging to travellers with coaching inns and pubs.
How to find Hay on Wye
From Hereford via A438 (Brecon). Avoid Toll Bridge. At Clyro turn left from A438 signposted following signs to Hay on Wye. On approaching Hay over the river bridge (2miles) turn right at the T junction. Follow the road (B4350) through the town. After passing the Swan Hotel (on the right) the road curves right. The Masonic Hall is some 200 yards further on, set back on the right. There is a car park almost opposite.