Fire in the Mountain

Step onto the green fields of mid-Wales for Fire in the Mountain, a special folk festival held on a charming old stone farm just outside Aberystwyth. Running from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026, this three-day gathering is an unforgettable celebration of music, dance and community. Friendly and welcoming, it feels more like a big family reunion than a typical festival, a place where friends camp side by side, share evening campfire songs, and greet each morning to the sound of birds. Surrounded by rolling Cambrian foothills and not far from the Cardigan Bay coastline, the landscape itself adds to the magic: expect red kites soaring overhead as you explore meadow paths and woodland clearings under open skies.

For the music lover, Fire in the Mountain offers a diverse line-up of folk, Celtic, Americana, bluegrass and world music across several intimate stages. Artists can be local Welsh bands and singers or travellers from across Britain, Ireland and beyond, all sharing a stage under the open sky. Throughout each day you might hear lively fiddle-and-banjo sessions, heartfelt ballads or even traditional Scottish pipe tunes. When night falls, a joyful ceilidh often erupts: everyone joins hands and follows a caller through spirited reels and circle dances beneath the stars. Spontaneous jam sessions pop up around campfires and in quiet grassy corners, so bring along any instrument you like - you never know who you'll end up playing tunes with! No matter your musical taste, the festival's friendly spirit of collaboration means there's always something new to hear and share.

Away from the music stages, Fire in the Mountain has plenty to keep everyone entertained. Children are very welcome here. There is a dedicated kids' area with crafts, games and storytelling, so parents can relax knowing little ones are having fun. All ages can try something new in creative workshops spread across the site: guests enjoy folk song circles, hand-drumming sessions, dance lessons and nature crafts beneath the trees. The festival also features a vibrant market and food area. Here you can pick up handmade crafts or try local produce and vegetarian treats - think wood-fired pizza, fresh Welsh cakes or steaming bowls of organic curry served under the open sky. A friendly bar area offers local ales and herbal teas by hay-bale tables, perfect for refueling between sets. When the music winds down each night, the festival spirit lives on around campfires: late-night acoustic jams and singalongs with friends carry on under the stars until dawn.

At its heart, Fire in the Mountain is about community and connection. Many of the people you'll meet here are volunteers and returning festival friends who help build and take down the site each year, and newcomers are welcomed warmly into this circle of music-loving folk. The festival operates with a strong eco-conscious ethos: it runs on solar panels and a biodiesel generator, has recycling stations throughout and bans most single-use plastics, so you can enjoy the fun in a way that feels good for the land. For extra charm, there is little to no mobile phone signal on the farm, so most people happily unplug and fully immerse themselves in the music, nature and camaraderie. Families, solo travellers and couples alike find themselves at home here: there are family-friendly camping sections, wheelchair-accessible amenities and plenty of chill-out spaces for anyone needing a quiet break. By the end of the weekend you'll leave with new friends, new tunes in your heart, and a smile that lasts all year.