Tomorrow, 25 April, from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m., the people of Newcastle Emlyn will proclaim a mighty call to all Wales for dragons everywhere to join them at the Heart of the Dragon Festival on 7 and 8 July.

July’s Festival will tell of the birth of the new Welsh Dragon in a major community-led celebration of Welsh mythology, art and song, a first for West Wales and in the very place where the last Dragon of Wales was slaughtered centuries ago.

Hundreds of schools, community groups from Scouts to rugby clubs, Chambers of Commerce and councillors have been joining in the initiative to create dragons supporting the story.

At tomorrow night’s Proclamation, magical music, spectacle and storytelling at Newcastle Emlyn’s ancient Castle will end in the ceremonial unveiling of a giant Welsh Dragon’s Egg, first found mysteriously floating in a coracle down the River Teifi through the town ten months ago.

And the call will go out to all Wales and the whole world to bring their dragons to the Heart of the Dragon Festival in July.

Artistic Director Pamela Gaunt said:

“The new baby dragon of Wales will heal rifts and herald a new beginning for the people of the land, our art, community and culture. The new dragon’s birth in this place of slaughter of the last dragon of Wales symbolises a new beginning for Wales.

We call to everyone in Wales and beyond to join us with their dragons on 7 and 8 July.”

The Dragon’s Egg has already travelled to Ireland, where hundreds of Dubliners created banners and greetings for Wales. Later in the year it will go to Poland and Prague.

Groups from Ireland, Poland, Czech and Portugal will come to Newcastle Emlyn for July’s festival.

Carmarthenshire County Councillor Haydon Jones said:

“This has been a hugely successful campaign and a superb bid. It’s the biggest award of this kind for this area that I’ve heard of and I’m sure the festival will benefit Newcastle Emlyn enormously and provide something long into the future for the people of the town.”

Wales’s best-loved superstar singer Katherine Jenkins said:

“I was thrilled to hear about the fantastic and well-deserved Heritage Lottery support for the Heart of the Dragon Festival.

”I wish the community of Newcastle Emlyn a glorious festival and a wonderful new Welsh Dragon and I hope that all the international links they’re making will help put Wales firmly on the map of Europe and the world.

“Good luck to everyone, congratulations and well done!”