Welsh BBQ stars Sam & Shauna are teaming up with Street Food Circus to launch Mabon, a new annual fire cooking festival which celebrates the feasting, fire and folklore associated with the autumn equinox in September.
Mabon will be a weekend food festival bringing together a diverse line-up of chefs who all have one thing in common, a love of cooking with fire. Taking inspiration from Mabon celebrations where people gathered together around fires to mark the autumn equinox (26-28 September) – the point when day and night are equal lengths – the festival will make the most of Wales’ harvest time, bringing together the smoke and flames with the best Welsh produce.
The festival will be hosted within the medieval walls of Caldicot Castle. Chefs will be cooking outdoors around a central dining space under cover of a large canopy. Sam & Shauna will host an exclusive four-course fire feast, joined by guest chefs under canvas in a truly magical setting.
Theatrical performances and storytelling around communal fire pits and a Smoke & Fire Demo stage will add to the entertainment, alongside a programme of food talks from chefs, producers and writers all curated by restaurateur Simon Wright.
Drinks will come from a natural wine bar supplied by Wright’s Wines and a Producers Market will be celebrating a new generation of independent, artisan food makers from across Wales.
Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn made their name with Hang Fire BBQ and have gone on to make TV series, publish cookbooks and make regular appearances at food festivals and as guest chefs on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. They are using the network they’ve built up over the last decade to invite the best fire chefs they’ve worked with to cook at Mabon.
Shauna Guinn, co-founder of Hang Fire BBQ said,
“The first food festival we cooked at was also the first ever Street Food Circus in Cardiff – so we’re thrilled to be back to celebrate ten years with them.
“We’ve always wanted to create an event which celebrates our home here in Wales and our great passion for cooking over fire. And importantly, one where everyone is welcome, a truly inclusive event where the focus is all about great chefs cooking with the best – ideally Welsh – produce.
“We also know how hard everyone in the food industry works throughout the festival season in the summer, so we’ll be extending a very warm welcome to anyone who wants to join us for an end-of-the-season get-together,” she said.
Mabon remains a popular celebration with those seeking to reconnect with ancient traditions and the cycles of nature through the year. The festival is often seen as a time for reflection on the changing seasons, enjoying the abundance of harvest and preparing for the winter months ahead.
Street Food Circus is producing the event, following the success of their Big Banquet events at Caldicot Castle over the last three years. Mabon will be the ninth event of ten in the 2025 Street Food Circus programme celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Matt the Hat, founder and ‘ringmaster’ of Street Food Circus said:
“This is a bit of a departure from our usual family-focused feastival events. We’re leaning into the fire and folklore, creating something more grown-up, and uniquely Welsh with Mabon. It’s a time to enjoy the richness of our harvest in Wales, gather together around the fire and take the opportunity for one last outdoor event before the nights draw in.
“We’re celebrating ten years of Street Food Circus and all the food businesses that have joined us along the way, many of whom have gone on to open restaurants, appear on TV or win major awards. So, it’s really special to welcome back Sam & Shauna who’ve done all of those things! We can’t wait to launch this new annual venture with them,” he said.
With its location close to the M4, Caldicot is within easy reach from south Wales and the south West of England. Camper van parking with toilet facilities will also be available for people to stay on site overnight.
