Festival Activities

Besides the
Activities described below, see Music, Youth Art, and Poetry under
separate tabs.
Festival events and activities happen in the Malad City park, in the adjacent church, and in other nearby sites in Malad and neighboring Samaria.
Click here to see all locations

 

Chairing of the Bard

The finale event of the Welsh Festival is always the Chairing of the Bard. The winner
of the Adult Poetry Contest is chaired at the finale event and will preside over the next year’s Festival.

 

 

 

 

 

Welsh Festival History Displays

Family history trees and census information for 30+ pioneer families that first settled Malad Valley.

Food & Craft Vendors

Dozens of food and
craft vendors in Malad City Park offer treats, meals, and unique
craft items.

A Walk Through Wales

A photographic journey through
Wales features castles, landscapes, and other scenes of Wales.

Presentations

Presentations on Welsh history and culture

Dean Hughes: Presentation – “What It Means to Me to Be Welsh”

Lucie Thomas Washburn: Presentation – “Festival Theme: St. David and Kindness”
 

Dulais Rhys: Presentation – “The Welsh National Anthem: Its History and How to Sing It.”

Welsh Festival Heritage Games

Learn to play the games
played by pioneer children as they crossed the Plains to Malad
Valley. (Sponsored by Malad Middle School MathCounts Team)

Kids Activities 

Face painting, drawing dragons and castles,
and building castles and knights’ shields are some of the activities for kids in Malad City Park. (Sponsored by Malad After-School
Program)

Wagon Tours of Historic Sites 

Take wagon
tours of historic routes in Malad, including Bannock Street and
North and South Main Streets.

 

 

 

Quilt Show and Bake Sale

See beautiful homemade quilts at the Malad Co-op in downtown
Malad. Hand-crafted items and baked goods are for sale.
(Sponsored by the Oneida Quilters)

Samaria Events

 Samaria, ID is located 10 minutes outside of Malad City. Originally, Samaria was the largest town within the Malad Valley. But when the railroad decided to go through Malad City instead of Samaria, things changed. 

Samaria is nestled under the beautiful Samaria Mountain range and lies in the southeastern  part of the State of Idaho. It stands on a slight elevation overlooking the fertile Malad Valley.

 

 

 

Malad Valley Heritage Square

John J. Williams cabin, Welsh Experience & Samaria Heritage exhibits, Thomas John Davis – Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin Tours, Buggy & Farm Wagon Display 

Malad Presbyterian Church Tours

The oldest
church in Malad Valley, the Malad Presbyterian Church celebrated
its 140 th anniversary in 2022. Tours and refreshments provided by
Church members.