Thousands Celebrate St David’s Day at the Senedd
Over sixteen hundred people celebrated St David’s Day at the Senedd on Saturday March 1st, with an estimated further 2500 taking part in the National St David’s Day parade, which ended at the Senedd for the first time.
The visitors all took part in a wide-ranging programme of free events and activities organised to mark the day of the patron saint of Wales. There were plenty of activities to keep the whole family occupied, from colouring in and face painting, to cookery demonstrations, and Welsh learning taster sessions. Entertainment was provided by Côr CF1, Fitzalan School Steel Band, Cher Punjab, a Sikh drumming band, and Bagad Penhars, a Breton piping band. Dewi the Dragon was a firm favourite with younger visitors and he particularly enjoyed taking part in the dancing workshops provided by Cwmni Dawns Werin Caerdydd.
Voting for “Welsh Idol” the National Assembly’s quest to find the Nation’s favourite Welsh person proved very popular. During February, visitors to the Senedd were asked to name their favourite Welsh person. A shortlist of the top ten was announced on February 29th for voting for Wales’s favourite to begin at the Senedd on St David’s Day.
Lord Elis-Thomas, Presiding Officer of the Assembly said: “It was an absolute pleasure to see so many people enjoying our national day and to welcome the parade to the Senedd for the first time. I hope to be welcoming the parade and other visitors to the Senedd to celebrate our national day for many years to come.