EUROPE’S largest youth festival is coming to the Royal Welsh Showground in 100 days.

An event was held on Friday, February 16, to mark the countdown to the Urdd National Eisteddfod which arrives in Brecon and Radnor and takes place between May 28 and June 2.

It has been 40 years since the area hosted the Eisteddfod. The event has grown significantly since 1978 and Llanelwedd is set to welcome 90,000 visitors to the Showground over six days.

15,000 children are expected to compete in a variety of competitions from singing, acting and dancing to hairdressing and cookery.

As well as competitions, on the field there will be activities such as sports sessions, a climbing wall, children’s shows, a funfair, live music and more than 80 stands offering activities and selling a variety of goods.

In the evenings, there will be concerts, shows and competitions showcasing local and national talent.

Aled Siôn, director of the Urdd Eisteddfod, said: “We are so excited to be returning to this beautiful part of Wales for the first time in 40 years.

“As well as raising awareness of the Welsh language amongst local children and young people and their families, research shows that a visit to an area by the Eisteddfod contributes up to £6 million to the local economy and that 78 per cent of visitors spend money in local businesses.

“I am very much looking forward to welcoming young people and families from all parts of Wales to Builth Wells in 100 days time.”

Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Powys County Council Portfolio Holder for Education, said: “It is hugely important for the Eisteddfod to come to Powys. It’s a very good shop window for us in Powys and a chance to showcase Powys as a place to live and visit.

“There are now over a thousand members of the Urdd in the south of the county which means they’ve already made the first step of committing to the Welsh language. We need to make sure that we can provide the next step in terms of provision.”

n Any day tickets are for sale up to 40 per cent cheaper at www.urdd.cymru/tickets