Street Food Circus has launched its newest event, the Fantastic Fête in the grounds of St Donat’s Castle on the Vale of Glamorgan coast.
Running over the first weekend in August (Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th), Street Food Circus is reimagining the classic summer fête with a circus twist – from a makers’ market and street food, to high wire acts and the “world’s biggest bouncy castle”.
Food and feasting will take centre stage at the event, with a street food line-up bringing cuisines from around the world including recent Welsh Street Food Award champions Pasta a Mano. Other Street Food Circus favourites will include Fire & Flank, Keralan Karavan, Sin Nombre, The Jerk Yard, Two Lads, Captain Joys, Ceylon & Beyond, Chiki Monkey, Packed, Holy Chesus, Posh on Wheels, Wok n Roll, Woosabi and Bare Bones Pizza.
A whole zone will be dedicated to puddings with live DJs playing – the Desert Island Disco will feature Minto’s Deserts, Rebel Crumble, Pwdin and Church of Churros.
The Street Food Circus x Tiny Rebel bar will be serving Welsh beers and Lola’s cocktail garden will be serving a range of Welsh spirits, cocktails and wines – with DJs playing throughout the day.
As well as the street food stalls, Fantastic Fête will host the Indie Collective Market – 18 independent traders selling a wide range of crafts, vintage and artisan products.
For circus fans, one of the UK’s best known aerial acts, Chris Bullzini, will be performing on his custom-built high wire rig eight metres above the crowds below. Throughout the day, children can enjoy free circus school sessions and crazy golf, and as evening falls, the castle grounds will come alive with a fire show finale from the Pembrokeshire Fire Spinners.
It’s not just humans who can run away with the circus at this event. The Incredibly Clever Canine Circus will be on hand offering their unique dog training experience. Using play and circus fun, any dog can become Incredibly Clever – and they also help their owners with top training tips and techniques.
The “world’s biggest bouncy castle” comfortably holds 100 people. At its highest point it is 12.8 metres tall and its side turrets are the same height as the walls of Cardiff Castle – making it taller than the Great Wall of China. At 23.8m by 20.7m, when it was built it smashed the existing record – though a new official record was set at the end of last year in Pakistan.
At the heart of the site will be a traditional band stand, with a programme of live music from up and coming Welsh acts and talented local youngsters. Visitors can join in with the music and performance with regular twmpath dances throughout the day.
St Donat’s castle has a lido swimming pool overlooking the coast and there will be a mobile sauna for people to swim, chill out and relax.
Street Food Circus founder and ringmaster, Matt the Hat, explained:
“This is the culmination of everything we do – the best street food in Wales, gravity-defying circus acts, nurturing local talent and supporting independent traders. All that plus a massive bouncy castle and a good old twmpath! It’s our biggest, most fantastic show yet, in a castle by the sea.”
“The St Donat’s site is an amazing location set between the historic castle and the spectacular Glamorgan Heritage Coast. It’s going to feel like a mashup of a festival and fête with all the stalls, live music, circus performers and, as the sun sets, a spectacular evening finale.
“If you loved Forest Feastival then this is your chance to experience all we have to offer – and there are loads of local campsites a stone’s throw from the location so you can make a weekend of it,” he said.
Tickets are on sale now at streetfoodcircus.co.uk and are £8 (plus booking fee) for adults and free for kids. Dogs are welcome. Some activities, such as the swimming pool and sauna, have an additional charge payable on the day. There are two bookable sessions each day 11am – 4pm and 4pm – 9pm.
