SOME of the biggest names in comedy will descend on Machynlleth this weekend for the town’s eighth annual comedy festival.

The three-day festival takes place throughout the town with comedy shows, live music and arts and crafts being held in various locations including Y Plas, Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Canolfan Owain Glyndwr and MOMA to name a few.

Since its inception in 2009, the festival has grown year on year and attracts thousands of comedy fans to the town over the May Day bank holiday, many staying in local hotels or camping near the leisure centre for the weekend.

The festival gives a chance to see some of the biggest names in comedy performing new material for the first time, often in very intimate venues.

Comics such as Arthur Smith, Stewart Lee, Mark Watson, Nick Helm, and Josh Widdicombe will grace stages across the town as well as a host of other names with over 160 performances taking place over the three days.

Along with the stellar line-up of big comedians, the weekend also brings live music, arts and crafts and children’s comedy shows to the streets of Machynlleth in what promises to be a busy weekend.

Last year, an estimated 6,000 visitors headed Machynlleth and the festival’s organisers said they expect to see even more visitors this year.

Festival director Henry Widdicombe said: “The festival is a real cauldron of creativity with over 160 different performances all taking place within Machynlleth across one weekend. It all combines to produce a truly unforgettable experience for visitors and performers alike."

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