Big Cheese race

Thousands of people from across the county borough, and further afield, will descend on Caerphilly town for the annual Big Cheese Festival.

The Great Cheese Race, due to begin at 6pm on Friday July 29, will signal the start of the weekend followed by a huge firework display.

The fun run will see teams of four carrying a lump of cheese around the grounds of Caerphilly Castle.

The Big Cheese is renowned for its huge funfair, craft stalls and entertainment and there will also be plenty of arts activities throughout the weekend.

As part of this, Caerphilly Arts Service will hold a series of arts activities for families inside Caerphilly Castle at the Big Cheese on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 5pm.

Everyone is then invited to join a carnival procession, which will take place at 2pm on the Sunday.

There will also be performances from Caerphilly Youth Theatre, The Caerphilly Community Chorus, local dance troupes and samba bands.

Residents across Caerphilly County Borough can again take advantage of a free bus service to get them to the festival.

Three free bus services will pass through a number of towns and villages including Risca, Crosskeys, Wattsville, Cwmfelinfach, Ynysddu, Blackwood, Cefn Fforest, Pontllanfraith, Maesycwmmer, Pontlottyn, Fochriw, Deri and Bargoed en route to the Big Cheese site in Caerphilly.

The free buses will drop off and pick up at the main bus station in Caerphilly town centre.

The festival will also play host to a number of special guests including Newport Gwent Dragons and former Welsh rugby international Scott Quinnell.

Former Corrie favourite Sean Wilson, aka Martin Platt, will be cooking up some cheesy recipes in the food marquee. Sean now runs his own businesses – Saddleworth Cheese Co – and is visiting the Big Cheese for the first time this year.

Caerphilly County Borough Council will be tweeting from the event as part of its drive to promote its use of social media. Visitors can keep up with the latest festival news by following the hashtah #bigcheese on Twitter.

Visitors to the Big Cheese are being encouraged to capture the event on camera to be in with the chance of winning a new iPod Touch.

To enter the competition entrants must first click the ‘Like’ button on Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Facebook page and then upload an image.

The council wants images that capture family fun at the Big Cheese. Entrants must seek permission from anyone appearing in their images. If children under the age of 16 appear in the image then parental consent is also required. The winning picture will be selected by a panel of judges and the winner will be contacted after the event.

For more information on the free buses and the park and ride buses, or for any additional information on the event please call 029 20 880011.

Visit the Big Cheese website at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese