A variety of exciting activities are planned to honour Bangor's rich history, vibrant present, and promising future. The celebrations will showcase the spirit of the community and highlight the heritage and diversity that make Bangor a unique and special place.
Bangor City Council has worked closely with local organisations, schools, and community groups to develop a vibrant and diverse array of events that celebrate the city’s past, present, and future. The lineup includes cultural festivals, historical reenactments, parades, sports events, competitions, and educational talks, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. Central to these celebrations is a strong commitment to the community and Bangor’s heritage.
In preparation for the celebrations, Bangor City Council has planted 18,000 daffodils - one for each month since the city’s foundation in 525 - which will bloom just in time for St. David's Day. Local schoolchildren will also commemorate the occasion by burying time capsules beneath a commemorative tree later in 2025.
Bangor City Director Dr Martin Hanks, said, “2025 will mark 1,500 years since St. Deiniol arrived and established his first religious settlement in 525, and we feel this milestone should be celebrated in style.
“As a city, we’re collectively putting together a programme of events that will run throughout the year. This includes Bangor University, the City Council, local schools, sports clubs, and community groups - all working together to create something truly special.
“Over the centuries, Bangor has grown not only in historical significance but also in cultural richness and diversity, with people from all walks of life coming together to create a dynamic, thriving city. This milestone year will celebrate not only the city’s fascinating history, from its founding by St. Deiniol to its vibrant cultural and intellectual contributions, but also the bright future that awaits Bangor and its people.
“The real ambition is to bring the whole community of Bangor together and promote our great city. Bangor 1500 promises to be an unforgettable year, with something for everyone - whether through attending events, participating in activities, or sharing in the joy of this significant milestone.”
The Bangor 1500 launch event at Garth Pier will take place on 31st December, starting at 9 pm. The evening will feature food, drinks and musical entertainment, with the fireworks display just after midnight.
Avril Wayte, Chair of Friends of Bangor Garth Pier, said, “We are thrilled to announce a very special fireworks event planned for New Year’s Eve at Garth Pier.
“The pier is always a wonderful place to celebrate the arrival of the new year, but this year is particularly significant as we welcome 2025, marking 1500 years of history for Bangor. We invite everyone to join us for an evening filled with food, drinks, and music in the lead-up to midnight.”
For further information please contact Lyn Parry at Bangor City Council on 01248564168.
For any media enquiries, please contact Medi Parry-Williams on 07464097587.
This year, 2025, Bangor Cathedral and the City of Bangor is celebrating 1500 years since St Deiniol arrived in Bangor and made his home on the site where Bangor Cathedral now stands. This is a really important anniversary.
One of the ways in which we are going to celebrate is with a musical production called ‘Dinas Noddfa / City of Refuge’, which is being led by Ysgol Glanaethwy and their Artistic Director, Cefin Roberts.
The production will be in Welsh and will be performed at the Cathedral during the last week of August 2025.
We hope to form a choir from the communities around Bangor especially for this production and there is an open invitation to anyone to join the choir. Experience of having sung in a group or choir is desirable but not necessary. Dedication will be the most important thing asked of you!
Please do come and be with us and so be part of important celebrations in the history of our City and Cathedral, as we celebrate and look forward to the future.
We will be holding an open meeting for anyone who is interested in Bangor Cathedral on Sunday 26th January at 4.30pm. All are welcome.
For more details contact Robert Townsend: 07789 940049 or roberttownsend@churchinwales.org.uk
Thank you
Cefin Roberts (Artistic Director of Ysgol Glanaethwy and Dinas Noddfa / City of Refuge)
The commencement of the St David’s Day celebrations when 18,000 native daffodils start to bloom in and around Bangor to mark each month since Bangor was founded in 525AD. 1st February (until 3rd March)
Free Concert at Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor
The musical tradition at Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral goes back hundreds of years. But in 1972, the building rocked to a new type of music – Christian rock, in the Welsh language. And over half a century later, it’s about to happen again on the 14th of February at 7pm as a free concert .
The old saying “the devil has all the best tunes” actually dates back as far as 1773, but it came back into the public conscious in the 1950s with the boom of rock ‘n roll music. In North Wales, however, four young people from Anglesey were determined to prove that rock music could also be dedicated to God, and could even be performed in the sacred space of Bangor Cathedral.
They were Arfon Wyn on guitar, Charli Goodhall on bass, drummer Maldwyn Huws and Dafydd Slade on organ. Together, they were “The Resurrection”, later changing their name to the Welsh equivalent, “Yr Atgyfodiad”.
Having gone through various name changes such as “The Swamp” and “Archimedes Principal”, The Ressurection became innovators not only in Christian rock but also Welsh language rock. They were ahead of their time – in the early 1970s, better known Welsh language rock bands like “Edward H Dafis” were yet to be formed, but The Resurrection were already bringing their unique blend of Christian teachings and heady progressive sounds to the youth of Wales.
They became one of the first Welsh language bands to be on the front page of Y Cymro newspaper, and played many memorable rock events such as Gwallt yn y Gwynt (Ap Sachlian a Lludw) at the National Eisteddfod in Haverfordwest in 1972. And they made history by becoming the first rock band to play in Bangor Cathedral.
The night was organised by the local branch of the Welsh YMCA. Lead guitarist Arfon Wyn recalls that the cathedral was brimming with the student and hippie element of Bangor at the time. Thankfully, both groups mixed well and enjoyed a set that comprised of melodic harmony based folk rock as well as more experimental progressive music.
The band’s performance was so energetic that they managed to blow one of their amps. Near disaster was averted when Arfon Wyn thought on his feet and asked if anyone had a spare. Miraculously, a long haired member of the audience dashed out of the building and brought a replacement from his van that was parked nearby. Maybe God approved of this music after all!
Following the success of the cathedral gig, the band’s fluid line up changed with Charli and Dafydd forming the band Children ,whilst Nia Edwards and Geraint Tudur joining the ranks of Yr Atgyfodiad that continued to gain a strong following with their energetic live set.
Their ambitious and catchy songs caught the ear of Dafydd Iwan and Huw Jones whose now legendary record label Recordiau Sain Records was in its infancy. The number of members also grew with people joining from other Welsh rock bands.
Former members of Tywyn band “Y Buarth”, Gwyndaf Roberts and the late Keith Snellgrove, came on board as the rhythm section along with Gwyndaf’s brother Dafydd on flute. Bethesda Born guitarist and former member of “Y Llwch” John Gwyn also joined the original quartet.
A trip followed to Monmouthshire's famous Rockfield Studio – later used as a recording venue by the Manchester band Oasis – where Yr Atgyfodiad recorded their sole EP, produced by ther Welsh singer-songwriter Dave Edmunds, known for the band “Love Sculpture” and the 1970 Christmas number one “I Hear You Knocking”.
Sadly, delays at the pressing plant and the fact that many of the songs were over three minutes meant that all important radio airplay was minimal. The rest of the band departed to form the progressive rock band Brân, while Arfon Wyn continued to blend progressive and folk rock with the band Pererin, winning the Can i Gymry competition in 1979.
As part of the Bangor 1500 celebrations as well as Dydd Miwsig Cymru (Welsh language music day), Arfon Wyn and a series of special guests will perform Yr Atgyfodiad and Pererin’s back catalogue at Bangor Cathedral on 14 Febuary at 7pm.
Download: poster
The concert is free, but please reserve a ticket in advance through: www.storiel.cymru
The band assure us that there’s no need to bring them a spare amp! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dathliadau-bangor-1...
Event: St David’s Day Parade
Date: Friday 21 February
Time: Starting at 12pm. Parade at 1pm.
Location: starting from Storiel, High Street, Cathedral.
Activities for an hour, around Storiel, Pontio, and M-Spar and Neuadd Penrhyn, related to Dewi and Deiniol, start parading at 13:00 from Storiel around the cathedral, down the High street, stop to sing near the clock, then back through the Deiniol Centre back to the cathedral to sing some more.
Event: Cathedral Choir CD of New Welsh Church Music
Date: Saturday 1st March
Location: Bangor Cathedral
Event: Artisan Market
Date: Sunday 18th May
Location: Bangor High Street
Event: City of Refuge - Theatre Production
Date: Friday 29th & Saturday 30th August
Location: Bangor Cathedral
Event: St Deiniol's Day
Date: Thursday 11th September
Location: Bangor Cathedral
Event: Live Worship on Radio 4
Date: Sunday 14th September
Location: Bangor Cathedral
Event: Diocesan Celebration and Conference
Date: Saturday 4th October
Location: Bangor Cathedral
