29 fun things to do in North Wales today: Friday, August 18

The summer holidays are still in full swing and across the region there are lots of events taking place.

As it is the year of legends, there's plenty of activities to keep your imagination fired up - including dragons.

But there's also the top musical theatre, music, culture and so much more.

Friday, August 18

Dwynwen, Dylan and Cariad the Dragons

Cherry and Bradley Smith with Cariad outside Harlech Castle (Image: Robert Parry Jones)

Beaumaris Castle

Daily until Monday, August 28

No booking is required, but usual site admissions into the castle will apply.

Dwynwen the dragon and her two young off-spring, Dylan and Cariad have touched down at Beaumaris Castle.

Dylan, a water dragon, can be seen squirting water from his mouth, while Cariad invites visitors to come and give her a warm Welsh “cwtch”.

The dragon babies will also be displayed outside Conwy Castle on August 29 until September 17 before Dwynwen and her babies head to Caernarfon on September 19, for a four-week stint.

The baby dragons’ arrival earlier this year marked a new chapter in the Welsh Government’s historic environment service (Cadw)’s Live the Legends campaign, which is bringing Wales’ dramatic sites and stories to life during Visit Wales’ 2017 Year of Legends.

Big House - Broadway Boulevard

Capital DJ Anton Powers (Image: McWatt & Jones)

Mostyn Broadway, Llandudno, Conwy

Doors open 10.30pm

Capital DJ Anton Powers and Hollie Profit will play Llandudno’s Broadway Boulevard on Friday.

Following a string of performances in Ibiza including Cream at Amnesia, Powers will bring his set back home to perform in Llandudno.

He made his name in the early noughties on Juice FM before moving to Radio City 96.7 in 2011.

The event will see a special guest performance.

For more information, visit broadwayboulevardllandudno.co.uk.

Grease the Musical

Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Conwy

Daily until Saturday, August 19

Times vary. For more information and to took tickets, visit venuecymru.co.uk.

He’s the one that you WANT.

Tom Parker, from the UK’s top boy band The Wanted is starring in his first ever theatrical role as ‘bad boy’ Danny in GREASE, the No.1 greatest musical.

Also starring Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Sandy and EastEnders’ and Strictly Come Dancing’s Louisa Lytton as Rizzo, this original, electrifying West End production lights up Venue Cymru for one week only.

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and take a trip to a simpler time as Danny and Sandy fall in love all over again.

It’s the original high-school musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy, Greased Lightnin’ and many more.

Joe Longthorne in Concert

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl

From 7.30pm

TV and recording star Joe Longthorne will be joined on stage with his sensational live band and special guest artist.

Longthorne has been a household name in Britain for over 25 years and continues to be in constant demand both as a television and live performer.

He first came to British public attention in 1981 when he was a finalist on London Weekend Television’s Search For A Star, which led to appearances at The London Palladium with Bob Hope, a slot on The Royal Variety Performance and appearances on The Talk Of The Town programme.

In 1987 he starred in the popular BBC series The Les Dennis Laughter Show and went on to be given his own television series The Joe Longthorne Show by Central Television for three consecutive seasons.

Tickets £23.50, concessions £2.50 off.

For more information and to book, visit rhylpavilion.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01745 330000.

Fish and Chips Train

Talyllyn Railway's museum at Tywyn Wharf station

Talyllyn Railway Company, Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd

Departs from Tywyn Wharf from 3.10pm

Tickets: Adult £17, child £8.50 (Under 5's free)

If steam trains and fish and chips are your two favourite things, jump aboard Talyllyn Railways's chippy train every Friday throughout August.

The Fish n Chips special takes you on a steam train trip through Snowdonia before returning to King's Licensed Café for a British favourite.

For more information and to book, visit talyllyn.co.uk.

Family Fun Days at Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle, Conwy

11.00am - 4.00pm

Adult £8.95, senior citizens, students and children under 16 - £5.80. Family £26.60 (2 adults and up to 3 children)

Members - free

Every Thursday and Friday, come along and let the kids try their hands at some archery or have a go at knocking the king off the shy.

Weaponry will also be on display with some sword fighting techniques shown.

Field Day Festival

Bastion Fields, Prestatyn, Denbighshire

10am-5pm

Community festival with live entertainment, bouncy castles, small funfair rides, activities and community stalls.

Visit atprestatyn.co.uk for further information.

Mold Flower Festival

St Mary’s Church, Mold, Flintshire

Wednesday, August 16 - Saturday, August 19

From 10am daily. Entry £3 per person.

St Mary’s Church will be transformed into an oasis of colour and perfume interpreting this year’s theme, Mold in Flowers.

There is a designated children’s area which will be filled with their own floral creations.

New this year will be the opportunity for visiting children to go on a Treasure Hunt – with a small prize at the end.

Porthdinllaen Beach Fun Day

Porthdinllaen Beach, Nefyn, Gwynedd

11am - 4pm

Join us on the beach for a day of fun filled activities. We'll have either kayaking or paddleboard taster sessions (a charge applies), beach football, a sand castle competition, rock-pooling and much more.

Summer fun for families - Ranger day

Erddig National Trust, Wrexham

11am to 3pm

Normal admission fees apply

Whether you’re looking for wild adventures or something a little more relaxing, there’s something for all the family at Erddig.

Throughout the holidays there’s something new to discover. Fridays are full of stories with award-winning storyteller Jake Evans.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue. Meet at the ticket office for directions to garden and Wolf’s Den. Wellies recommended for wet days.

Call 01978 355314 for more information.

Quiz Night

The Boathouse, Chirk, Wrexham

8pm - 11pm

Gaz will be MC - what new perplexing and mind bending rounds can he create at Chirk quiz HQ this time?

A warm welcome awaits you.

Tragic Youth - Mountebank - BERMUSA - special guest TBA

Central Station, Wrexham

From 7pm

Tickets £7.

Shoreline Safari

Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey

11:00–15:30

Join the Wild Elements team and explore the amazing coastline of the Menai Strait.

Limited availability, bookable on the day.

Children must be accompanied at all times. £1.50 per person (Plus normal admission price)

Times will varydepending on tides.

George Michael & Wham! Tribute

Venu, Station Square, Pwllheli

8pm - 11pm

This is a free event. 18+

Pete started singing in 1995 and toured around Stoke on Trent perfecting his George Michel Tribute Show. Pete has been entertaining sold out crowds since 2007. He has played all over the UK and played in all types of venues from 5 star hotels to arena venues and golf courses.

Pete has spent over a decade perfecting his George Michael Tribute Show and his repertoire will keep the audience captivated and dancing all night long! A stunning performance and dedicated tribute.

You will believe George Michael is in the room with you. Pete can mix the sets and have a George Michael set then recreate the old favourites from WHAM years.

Free Babyballet Demo Class

BlueBears Playcentre, Coed Aben Road, Wrexham

10:30–11:00

Come along and try a free babyballet class.

Classes are suitable for 6 months to 6 years. Come and have a taster to see what some of our sessions are like and in September we will be having regular classes on a Thursday at Bluebears.

SeaQuarium, Rhyl

Open daily 10am -5pm

Various tickets available

There’s a new addition to the family over at the SeaQuarium - an octopus named Hank.

Hank is still young and eventually his mantle (body) will grow to about 25cm with his dexterous tentacles reaching a length of around a metre.

In the wild, common octopus can be found world-wide, but are most abundant in the Mediterranean Sea, eastern Atlantic Ocean and in Japanese waters. They can also be found around the southern coasts of Britain.

Hank can be seen during the current ‘Explorers Month’ at the aquarium. This is a month-long event running until 31 August for the school summer holidays. Budding explorers can look for Hank and his neighbours as part of the interactive trail around the aquarium, or they can take part in some arts and crafts in the Explorers Craft Club, or watch a themed seal show.

Explorers activities are included in the standard admission price, with the exception of the trail, which includes a small fee. SeaQuarium Rhyl is open 10am daily with last admissions at 5pm. Admission tickets are valid all day, so there is the chance to come back and see the main seal feed at 12pm and 4pm.

Further information is available from SeaQuarium’s official website: www.seaquarium.co.uk or by telephone on 01745 344660.

Country Music Night with the Goat Roper Rodeo

3RD Space at the Great Orme Brewery, Llandudno

Tickets £10 advance, £12 on the Door

7pm - 10pm

Join The Goat Roper Rodeo Band for another cosmic night of wild country and special guest musicians.

Featuring: Lee Southall

Lee Southall brings a wealth of experience to his solo performances. As a founder member of eclectic Liverpool band The Coral, he’s already enjoyed a career that spans seven albums; a Mercury Prize nomination and a Music Producers Guild Award for album of the year.

His solo work hinges on finely crafted songwriting and virtuoso acoustic guitar. Folk, pop, blues and country thread their way through songs that take inspiration from the melodic intricacy of Bert Jansch and Davey Graham, through to the raw sparseness of Karen Dalton and Townes Van Zandt.

Lis Fields - FUKUSHIMA→CYMRU exhibition

Prichard Jones Institute, Anglesey

Daily until Thursday, August 31 from 10:30am-5pm

Images taken by artist Lis Fields, some from within 7km of the catastrophic meltdown site at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Japan, together with detailed captions, give a unique glimpse of the scale of the disaster in an exhibition on Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Wales.

The exhibition, titled FUKUSHIMA→CYMRU gives a sense of not only the destruction, abandonment and physical environmental cost, but also the temporary lives being led by the people displaced by the radiation now dominant in their homes and workplaces.

It further cements links between campaigners in Wales and Fukushima, united by a desire to avoid future disasters.

It is organised by PAWB - the campaign group seeking alternatives to nuclear power as Anglesey.

One of the group’s high-profile supporters, Super Furry Animals’ Cian Ciaran, contributes with a unique, new piece of music in response to Lis’ exhibition.

Collaborating with friend and musician, Meilyr Tomos, a member of Ciaran’s first ever band, the duo will fill the room with sound accompanied by a specially created film projection by the creative collective,’ffloc’.

The exhibition texts include statements by some of these people who Lis met while on the tour, revealing some of the ways they are responding to the catastrophe.

For more information visit: www.lisfields.org

Around Portmeirion in 80 Trees

Until August 31

Portmeirion, Gwynedd

Normal admission fees apply

Nestled between two beautiful Snowdonia rivers, Portmeirion is not only home to some pretty exotic plants but also some of the country’s biggest trees. Our 70 acres of woodlands offer spectacular views along coastal paths and a unique mix of ancient, ornamental and native tree collections. Discover more and experience the wonder of nature with our brand new tree trail.

Portmeirion also host a kids clubb over the summer with free activity packs, train journeys, mermaid hunts and a daily activity board. The architectural wonderland also provides extensive woods and private beaches to explore. Bring a picnic basket and you can create a family feast in the forest.

Music Classes

St Mary's Church, Broughton, Flintshire

From 10.30am

£7.50 with additional sibling joining in free

Minims and Melodies will be running a special summer holiday music workshop from St Marys Church in Broughton.

The morning will include a fun, educational and interactive 45 minute music lesson.

We'll be singing, learning about music theory, exploring classical music and jazz, dancing and generally having a great time.

Then a stay, play and meet the musical instruments session. Your little one can meet and explore the piano, clarinet, flute, recorder and even the church organ.

Suitable for toddlers and preschoolers up to 5 years old.

Secret Sinema - Steven Spielberg

Once again Two Guys from Brussels is opening our lounge for our customers to enjoy a refreshing beverage, deliciously decedant treats, and a classic movie.

The screening of this event shall be a classic Steven Spielberg.

Tickets are priced £13 in the shop or online.

This shall be a 16+ only event.

To book, visit https://bookwhen.com/twoguysevents/e/ev-s77r-20170818183000.

Inky Pots

Greenfield Valley Museum Heritage Park, Holywell, Flintshire

1.30pm to 3.30pm

Free event

Create your own 2D pot decorated using oil pastels and inks.

Chess Club of Llandudno U3A

Kings Head Pub, Llandudno

from 12pm - 2pm

This group is open to experienced chess players as well as to beginners.

It's a relaxed and sociable atmosphere who meet in the back bar every Friday.

There is a very experienced chess tutor, Danny Heath who is always at hand to give advice to our members and is planning to give talks on chess tactics.

There are internal tournaments and matches against other chess clubs.

Contact John Arzel on 01492 593100 or 07070509150 or email arzel1@totalise.co.uk for more information.

Tegi, the Earth Dragon Quiz Trail

RSPB Conwy, Llandudno Junction

Price: £1 per quiz sheet

Summer Holiday Fun - explore the nature reserve to find the answers. Start at Tegi’s nose and finish at his tail.

Aimed at 7 years to grown ups. This activity will take place daily throughout the summer break.

Catrin the caterpillar trail

RSPB Conwy, Llandudno Junction

Price: £1 per quiz sheet

Summer Holiday Fun - Catrin the caterpillar’s trail will have a new friend hiding on it each week of the holidays (changing on a Thursday). Find her friends and you can collect a different badge each week. Can you collect all 6?

Aimed at 3 years to 8 years.

This activity will take place daily throughout the summer break.

Melody bear and the princess ball toddler Dance Workshop

Dancing Gemz Studio, Broughton, Flintshire

10am - 11am

This hour long session is aimed at walking toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Join melody bear and have lots of fun learning our cooking and cleaning dance while we prepare for the princess ball. Then our wand and carriage dance and more. After a fun dance session we will then have a small snack and craft session before collecting our stickers to take home.

Children are welcome to come dressed to our princess/ prince theme.

Superheroes: The Legends of Today

Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives

Mon-Fri 10 am - 5 pm.

Free event

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Dr Who and Spider-Man have become the legends of our own era in the eternal struggle between good and evil.

This exhibition celebrates these heroes of the imagination through the drawings of Wrexham-based illustrator, Neil Edwards. Illustrations reproduced courtesy of DC Comics, Marvel Comics and BBC/Titan Comics. A Wales – Year of Legends – 2017 exhibition.

This is event is suitable for adults and children.

Contact Wrexham Museum on 01978 297 460 or email museum@wrexham.gov.uk for more information.

Dolls House and Miniatures Exhibition

Bulkeley Hotel Anglesey

10.30am to 4.30pm

Free entry. Donations to Wales Air Ambulance and Riding for Disabled (Ynys Mon group)

Exhibition of dolls houses in different scales and eras, Tudor, Victorian to 1940’s. Individual miniature projects. Of interest to all ages. The project based in the Bulkeley Hotel, Beaumaris will have several new additions.

Look out for the fairies and Winter wonderland. Some old favorites and new houses and miniatures are also being shown.

The show will be held in the Ballroom at the Bulkeley Hotel. Easy access for wheelchairs. Ample parking in the town. Coffee /lunches available in hotel.