Held at the Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, 天天吃瓜鈥檚 Main Arts Building, Storiel and 天天吃瓜Cathedral, the two-day festival promises a rich programme of workshops, discussions, interactive exhibitions, and guest talks, all designed to bring Bangor鈥檚 extraordinary history to life.
The daytime event on 18th October is free and open to the public, with bilingual programming in Welsh and English to reflect the city鈥檚 cultural roots.
Headline Talks with Greg Jenner and Kate Williams
A highlight of the festival鈥檚 evening programme on both days, will be two headline talks: Greg Jenner, the British public historian, best-selling author, and broadcaster, will deliver 鈥淎sk a Historian: An Evening with Greg Jenner鈥, bringing history to life with his trademark humour and insight, while historian, broadcaster, and best-selling author Professor Kate Williams will present 鈥淨ueens, Castles and Welsh Heroines: Secrets Behind The Castle Walls鈥, uncovering the powerful stories and legacies of remarkable women in Welsh history. Tickets are on sale on the website, and tickets for the and sessions of the 鈥淕et thy Bearings!鈥 workshop are available on the Storiel website.
The event is a collaboration between 天天吃瓜 (including Pontio), 天天吃瓜City Council, Storiel and 天天吃瓜Cathedral, with support from several key local institutions. The 天天吃瓜History Festival is more than just an event; it is a celebration of community, identity, and the stories that have shaped our past and will influence our future.
Check out the details of all the History festival events below, in our timetable of events for the day.
Friday 17.10.2025
6 PM - 7PM
Greg Jenner is a historian, author and broadcaster whose works include the TV series 鈥楬orrible Histories鈥, the 鈥楾otally Chaotic History鈥 book series and the 鈥榊ou鈥檙e Dead To Me鈥 podcast.
Join Greg as he gives his particular take on all things history!
Theatre Bryn Terfel, Pontio
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Standard and Senior 拢10
Student and child 拢5
Saturday 18.10.2025
All day
Enjoy activities, interactive displays and things for children on our partner stalls!
- 天天吃瓜Maritime Learning Centre
- Confucius Institute
- M-SParc
- 天天吃瓜Heritage College
- Menter Iaith Bangor
- LleCHI LleNI Gwynedd Council
- 天天吃瓜 Ocean Sciences
10am 鈥 4pm
Enjoy the displays e.g. Medicine in north Wales, Penrhyn estate and slavery, 天天吃瓜football, education in 天天吃瓜and Kate Roberts and the 天天吃瓜College led by the Archives team. The Pontifical will also be on display as part of the Cathedral exhibition in the Council Chamber corridor.
11am-5pm
Come and visit Storiel as part of the Festival
10am - 3pm
A warm welcome to everyone to visit the Cathedral
10 AM
Join Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, as he uncovers how pacifism at 天天吃瓜shaped our past and present.
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Welcome by Lord Dafydd Wigley. Introduction to the talk by Roland Evans, Assistant Head Economy and Community, Cyngor Gwynedd Council. Panel talk on slate history and heritage with Elin Tomos, Dr Dafydd Gwyn and Dr Dafydd Roberts.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Come and learn more about the area鈥檚 history and shipwrecks with Dr Michael Roberts, School of Ocean Sciences, 天天吃瓜.
Pontio PL2, level 2
Learn more about the Cathedral and the Bishops with Dr Shaun McGuinness, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, 天天吃瓜.
The Caernarfonshire Historical Society sponsors the session.
天天吃瓜Cathedral
History of 天天吃瓜city (English session)
Meeting place: Pontio reception near Deiniol Road (a)
11 AM
Welcome by Professor William Heath, Head of School, School of Computer Science and Engineering, 天天吃瓜.
Introduction to the work of Tom Parry-Jones (John Brinley Jones, PPM Technology) & 鈥榃.E. Williams: engineer and pioneer of flight鈥 (Professor Iestyn Pierce, School of Computer Science and Engineering, 天天吃瓜).
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Session on the game鈥檚 history and identity in 天天吃瓜and the north. Chaired by Dr Jonathan Ervine, School of Arts, Culture and Language, with Beth Jones, PhD researcher, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, 天天吃瓜; Glynne Roberts, 天天吃瓜football historian and supporter; and Mei Emrys, Welsh football historian (tbc).
Pontio PL2, level 2
History of Main Arts Building (Welsh session)
Meeting place: Reception near College Road (b)
11.15 AM
Come and learn more about the quarries history with Dr Leona Huey and Dr Gary Robinson, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, 天天吃瓜.
Pontio PL5, level 5
11:30 AM鈥 1 PM
1st Session. 11.30 - 1pm
Fun for the entire family, there鈥檒l be an opportunity to create maps and compare 天天吃瓜maps of the past, present and future! Come and learn more about the maps of John Speed. Workshops combining geography with arts and crafts.
Rhys Lloyd Jones will present a fun workshop with 天天吃瓜central to it.
Morning session -
Storiel
12 PM
Come and learn more about the history of the bridge with Kerry Evans, UK Highways A55 Ltd; John Cole and Gareth Jones, Menai Heritage Trust.
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Come and learn more with Gwyn Ellis, Education Officer, Cyngor Gwynedd Council.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Lecture by Dr Shaun Evans, Director, Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates, 天天吃瓜.
Pontio PL2, level 2
Meeting place: Reception near College Road (c)
1 PM
Come and learn more about the 9th century monk with Professor Raluca Radulescu, Co-Director, Centre for Arthurian Studies, 天天吃瓜.
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Come and learn more about the relationship between locations, emotions and behaviour with the musician and archaeologist Rhys Mwyn.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Learn more with John Richard Williams, author of 鈥楨r Lles Llawer: Meddygon Esgyrn 惭么苍鈥
Pontio PL2, level 2
2 PM
Come and learn more about local Jewish history with Professor Nathan Abrams, School of Arts, Culture and Language, 天天吃瓜
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Come and explore Bangor鈥檚 LGBTQ+ history, as Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, School of History, Law and Social Sciences, reveals the struggles and triumphs that made a difference.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Come and learn more about the area鈥檚 history and take part in the celebrations with Dr Marian Gwyn and Race Council Cymru.
Pontio PL2, level 2
2nd Session. 2pm - 3.30pm
Fun for the entire family, there鈥檒l be an opportunity to create maps and compare 天天吃瓜maps of the past, present and future! Come and learn more about the maps of John Speed. Workshops combining geography with arts and crafts.
Rhys Lloyd Jones will present a fun workshop with 天天吃瓜central to it.
Afternoon session -
Storiel
Meeting place: Pontio reception near Deiniol Road (a)
3 PM
Come and learn more about the history of 天天吃瓜1939-45 with Dr Martin Hanks, City Director, 天天吃瓜City Council.
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT), Main Arts Building
Come and learn more about the area鈥檚 history before establishing the city of 天天吃瓜with the archaeologist Dr Erin Lloyd Jones.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Come and learn more about the University鈥檚 history with the historian Gari Wyn.
Pontio PL2, level 2
Meeting place: Reception near College Road (b)
4 PM
Come and learn about the lives of Charlotte Price White and Gladys Thoday with Dr Dinah Evans, Honorary Research Associate, and Shan Robinson, Senior Special Collections Assistant, 天天吃瓜.
Eric Sunderland Lecture Theatre (MALT, Main Arts Building)
Come and listen to the experiences of individuals who have represented local constituencies. With Cllr Medwyn Hughes, Mayor of Bangor, chairing, the panel includes Sian Gwenllian MS (Plaid Cymru), Senedd Member for Arfon since 2016; Robin Millar (Conservatives), MP for Aberconwy 2019-2024; and Claire Hughes MP (Labour), MP for 天天吃瓜Aberconwy since 2024.
Pontio PL5, level 5
Meeting place: Reception near College Road (c)
6pm - 7pm
Professor Kate Williams is a historian, author and television presenter whose works include 鈥楨ngland鈥檚 Mistress鈥, 鈥楤ecoming Queen鈥 and 鈥楾he Ring and the Crown: A History of Royal Weddings 1066-2011鈥. In the final event of the festival, join Kate for an entertaining, insightful and thought provoking journey of history.
Theatre Bryn Terfel, Pontio
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Standard and Senior 拢10
Student and child 拢5
Collaborators
