ABERGYNOLWYN is setting up to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their popular carnival in glamorous, retro style.

The popular festival, featuring its popular Carnival Queen segment, first took place in 1946 on a parcel of land in the middle of the field known locally as ‘the patch’.

One year later Abergynolwyn’s original village hall was constructed which was subsequently replaced by the current Ganolfan community hall in 2005, certain villagers still refer to that area as ‘the patch’ however,

Miriam Webb, secretary for the carnival, explained how the festival took on its current guise.

She said: “The carnival has developed over the years, the centre of carnival week activities has been and still is the village hall which holds events such as male voice choir concerts, fashion shows, bingo, quizes, beetle drives, fetes and of course the crowning ceremony of the Carnival Queens.

“Proceeds from Abergynolwyn Carnival Week is donated to the Ganolfan Committee towards the upkeep of the Ganolfan.”

The first queen was Elma Pugh, nee Jones, and she was dressed as “Brittania” many years ago.

The inaugural queen still lives in Abergynolwyn and will be in the audience as usual this year.

This year our carnival queen is Chloe Crowley, daughter of former queen Clare Crowley.

Chloe will be crowned by Karen Roberts (Carnival Queen 1993) during the crowning ceremony on Monday, 25 July at 7pm.

“As it is the 70th anniversary, our theme is the 1940s so on Tuesday we are having a retro afternoon tea/street party and fete at 2pm,” the carnival secretary continued.

“There will also be a quiz at 8pm which will have questions covering the last seven decades.

“The Carnival and BBQ will start on Wednesday afternoon, We’re holding a Hendrewallog run on Thursday and finishing the week on Friday at 7.30pm with an evening of live music, featuring ‘Shine on’. It should be as fantastic as it always is, we’re very much looking forward.”