We’re getting good vibrations celebrating Swansea’s 50 years as a city and you’re invited to the party!
Great things happened 50 years ago in 1969. Concorde made its maiden flight. Neil Armstrong made one giant step for mankind on the moon. And, yes, the Queen granted city status to our ‘ugly, lovely town’, Swansea on Thursday 3rd July 1969.
Giving us the excitations is our line-up of great events this summer, just look at these highlights:
We kick off our celebrations with St Helen’s Road 50 Year Summer Street Party on Thursday 27th June, featuring love music, performance, and delicious street food. The fun starts at 3.30pm and continues with art, poetry, pop-up skate park, and much more, until 8pm.
The Red Arrows will be making a welcome return to Swansea for the Wales Airshow on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July, thrilling crowds lining the bay with their transonic aerobatic display. Look out for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, featuring the Hurricane and Spitfire planes alongside a Lancaster bomber from WWII, their continued sight in UK skies fittingly commemorates those who have fallen in the service of this country.
For one night only, tethered hot air balloons and night-flying aerobatic teams will be gathering to party over Swansea in Airshow After Dark. The special addition to Saturday’s main event starts at 8.30pm and features music from 1969, an apt way to celebrate Swansea’s 50th year as a city. You won’t want to miss the aircraft with fireworks firing off their wings!
Bringing an altogether different, but equally pleasing, sonic experience to Swansea, we welcome the fab four. Obviously not the Beatles, but four fabulous concerts in Singleton Park featuring the Stereophonics, on Saturday 13th July; Pete Tong and The Heritage Orchestra, on Saturday 27th July; Jess Glynne, Saturday 28th July; and BBC Proms in the Park, Saturday 14th September. (Did you know August 20, 1969, was the last time the four Beatles were together in the recording studio?)
We bring you theatre in August, but not as you know it! Outdoor theatre provides an alternative way to experience theatrical performance in a more relaxed environment. We welcome Heartbreak Productions, who have been delivering outstanding theatre for 27 years, to the grounds of Oystermouth Castle for two performances: Gangsta Granny, based on the popular children’s story by David Walliams, on Wednesday 21st August; and Wuthering Heights, adapted for the stage from Emily Bronte’s classic novel, on Wednesday 28th August. Why not pack a picnic and blanket to make it perfect? Finally, as summer draws to a close, we go back to the summer of ’69 at Swansea Museum in a new exhibition, Swansea 50 Years a City, taking a nostalgic look at Swansea’s story during its five decades of city status. Expect to recall fond memories with lots of interesting exhibits and personal accounts, including a particular study of 50 years of live music in the city.
Whatever gives you the excitations, you’ll wish this summer would last for ever with the amazing activities and events listed on our website for you to enjoy.
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And, remember, good times are always better when shared. Post what you’re doing on social media, tagging us @EnjoySwansea, using the hashtags #GoodVibes and #SwanseaBay.
This post is also available in: Welsh