The Cardiff Big Weekend took place annually from 1993 to 2011, and in 2017 as part of the Cardiff Festival organized by Cardiff Council.[1] The event was free, and lasted three days. As well as music over the weekend, there were fair rides on site, and firework displays.[2]
In 2004 the Admiral Group began to sponsor the event, and continued to do so until 2011.[3] This sponsorship led to the event later being titled the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend.[4]
Alongside the event a competition held by Cardiff Council's event team gave the opportunity for bands to perform at the Big Weekend. The Big Gig was launched in June 2011, and had a category for under 18s and over 18s. In 2011 there were over 60 entrants and the over 18 finalists competed at The Globe, Cardiff.[5][6]
Pride Cymru brought back the Big Weekend music festival and included their LGBT Pride Parade to reform it as 'Pride Cymru's Big Weekend'. Cardiff City Hall's Lawn, which was located at the end of the official Pride Parade route, was the venue.[7]
The Cardiff Big Weekend, which is usually held the second weekend in August as part of Cardiff Festival, was "rested" for a year in 2012 due to the Olympic Football games taking place at the Millennium Stadium (in Cardiff) on 9 and 10 August.[8]
In 2013, the music festival was axed and replaced with a temporary 'Beach' area in Cardiff Bay's Roald Dahl Plass.[9]
