'Hay Fever' while staying at Brecon Caravan Club site

The Meek Family

Now before you think we were all red-eyed and sneezing during our stay in the beautiful Brecon Caravan Club site, let me enlighten you. We actually spent the week commuting from Brecon to Hay-on-Wye for the annual Hay Festival and its children's programme, entitled Hay Fever. It was our first time visiting the event and one we all enjoyed. For ten days every year, the quiet, rustic village of Hay-on-Wye becomes transformed into a hubbub of literary  cacophony. Numerous authors, illustrators and celebrities come to provide talks and workshops promoting their latest books. The general public in their masses form orderly queues, wander around the bookshop and lounge around in the deckchairs reading newly acquired books. 

 

The Hay Festival started in 1988 and has grown in popularity, spreading across the globe. The annual event in its place of origin, Hay-on-Wye, is smoothly run, easily accommodating the thousands of people that attend it. Queues for talks and book signings are carefully managed to have little impact. The venue offers a range of tents that differ in size and layout to accommodate talks for large audiences and workshops for a select few - both of which we were attended. A wide range of ages are attracted to Hay and the programme reflects this. I was particularly impressed by what was on offer to children on the Hay Fever programme catering for youngsters 4+ and teenagers. It was wonderful to see so many wandering around or sat engrossed in books that they had bought and probably got signed at the festival. Our two got their fill of books from the shop and came away with a few to read as well as some new possibilities to explore.

 

Of the ten days, we attended most. Some days we popped by for a talk and on other days we lingered longer, soaking up the atmosphere, feeling inspired by talks and even joining the queues for book signings. There are plenty of campsites near the Hay Festival but we enjoyed returned to the Brecon Caravan Club site, a short drive away. We had a fabulous time and will certainly be returning!