Hello, Swansea! As summer ramps up, there’s loads going on for both kids and grown-ups - and I’ll make sure you’re in the know.

In this week’s Swansea Scoop:

• 26 summer holiday activities for the kids

• Huge 70/80s/90s retro disco

• Fortes ice-cream parlour re-opens

• … and tons more!

Let’s get to it.

— James

P.S. If you enjoy the Swansea Scoop, please tell a friend! 🙏

THE DIGEST

Swansea Cycle Hire Scheme Gets Major Revamp 🚴

Goodbye Santander Cycles, hello Swansea University Cycles! Swansea’s cycle hire scheme will relaunch on August 12th with nextbike offering 100 brand new bikes and a total of 7 docking stations in the city. Prices are earmarked at £2 / 20 minutes, with a £12 daily cap. Monthly and annual memberships will also be available.

Green Flag Award for Swansea Parks 🌳

Six Swansea parks including Penllergare Valley Woods and Clyne Gardens in have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award for 2024/25, continuing their commitment to providing access to free, safe and great quality outdoor space. Congrats!

Ex-Solider Sets Up New School from Scratch 🏫

Gavin Lewis, a former soldier from Swansea has set up a new school from scratch, in just 7 months. Ysgol Antur Cwm in Ystrsadgynlais will serve 11-16-year-olds with additional learning needs, offering a curriculum that blends classroom learning with activities like hiking and sailing.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Meat Wagon Pop-up at Y Shed 🍖

Time to get your sweat on. Y Shed in Gowerton is hosting a pop-up Meat Wagon Night on Friday July 26th, with dishes including BBQ shredded beef and smoked pulled pork - plus BBQ pulled jackfruit for vegetarians and vegans. Booking required.

Fortes Ice-Cream Parlour Re-opens 🍨

After months of extensive refurbishment, the famous Forte's ice-cream parlour overlooking Bracelet Bay in Mumbles re-opened last week. Cool down with a cone from 9.30 AM - 6 PM, seven days a week until September.

Uplands Monthly Market 👛

Pop down to Gwydr Square on Sunday July 27th for the monthly Uplands Market, where local traders bring you the best in local produce, food and drink, clothes, jewellery, art, and tons more - plus, music from blues & roots singer-songwriter, Gordon Wride (11.30 AM). The market runs from 9 AM - 1 PM.

WHAT’S ON

Beach Sculpture Festival 2024 ⛱️

Grab your bucket and spade and join a team of artists to create an open-air display of sculptures made from natural materials such as sand and shells, inspired by marine life. Hosted by Art and Education By the Sea and now in its 20th year, the Beach Sculpture Festival runs from Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM each day at various Swansea beaches. It's completely free and everyone is welcome:

• Mon 22nd - Caswell

• Tue 23rd - Oxwich

• Wed 24th - Port Eynon

• Thu 25th - Rhossili

• Fri 26th - Bracelet Bay

• Sat 27th - Blackpill

South Wales’ Best Young Trader & Family Fun Day 🍛

The finest young traders from across South Wales battle it out in Swansea Market and on Oxford Street on Saturday 27th July from 10 AM – 4.30 PM for a chance to reach the final of the national Young Traders Competition, loading you up with all manner of food and crafts in the process. The day will be filled with tons of free family fun, from giant garden games in the Market Garden, Hook-a-duck and coconut shy, face painting, Disney characters, balloon magic, live music, and more.

Retro Disco Party at the Brangwyn Hall 🪩

Turn back the clock (and leave the kids at home) for a Disco For Grown-Ups at the Brangwyn Hall on July 26th at 8 PM - a night filled with the best 70s, 80s, and 90s disco, soul, pop, and dance classics.

Summer Music River Cruise on the Copper Jack 🛥️

Take a boat trip on the Copper Jack up the River Tawe with upbeat popular songs from guitar-playing duo Phil Myles and Al Pritchard on Saturday July 27th. The boat is covered and has a licensed bar with hot and cold drinks and snacks. Arrive at 3.45 PM to board for departure at 4 PM.

Swansea in Gloom Spooky Walking Tour 😱

Join Swansea In Gloom’s storyteller on Thursday July 25th from 7.30 PM - 9.30 PM to discover Swansea’s darkest secrets of murder, superstitions, debauchery, and ghosts that haunt every alleyway, uncovering tales from the medieval era to the mid-20th century. The walk starts and finishes at Llys Glas (The Old Police Station) at HQ Urban Kitchen Café/Bar.

Mumbles Raft Race 2024 🌊

The beloved annual Mumbles Raft Race returns on Saturday July 27th, with groups of neighbours, workmates and friends racing their quirky homemade rafts along the coastline from Mumbles to Knab Rock to help raise money for the Mumbles RNLI. The action kicks off at 12 PM. For a great view, get yourself on the patio or balconies of the restaurants at Oyster Wharf, or outside Verdis for the big finish.

Hafod Copperworks Guided Walk 🚶‍♀️

Find out about Swansea’s once vast and thriving copper industry and Copperopolis with a free guided walk hosted by The Friends of Hafod Morfa Copperworks. No need to book, just meet in the small car park opposite the Landore Park and Ride on July 27th at 11 AM.

Mumbles Here Comes the Summer Street Party 🥳

Cross everything and pray for sunshine as the annual Mumbles Here Comes Summer street party takes over Newton Road from 4.30 PM - 9 PM on Thursday July 25th. There'll be street food, live music, fairground rides, face painting and tons more for the whole family.

Mayhill Community Planting Event 🌺

Drop by to Mayhill Community Centre 12 PM - 3 PM on Thursday July 25th to help develop its community garden by planting seeds, flowers and herbs. There'll be free refreshments, snacks and a warm lunch available for all green-fingered volunteers.

Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na Bat Walk! 🦇

Grab your torch and join members of the Glamorgan Bat Group for an evening of bat spotting, meeting at Parc Llewelyn Community Centre in Morriston on July 23rd from 8.45 PM - 10.30 PM. You'll get the chance to learn how to use bat detectors and lots of fascinating information about these elusive creatures.

The Big Butterly Count 2024 🦋

Join the UK-wide Big Butterfly Count at Upper Killay on Friday July 26th from 10.30 AM - 12.45 PM to help the Gower National Landscape team count the amount and type of butterflies in the area to assess the health of our environment. The count involves a leisurely walk along Pwll Mawr towards Fairwood pool - all equipment provided free.

Gower Seals Talk 🦭

The Gower Seals group wants to spread the word about the Atlantic grey seals of Gower. Join them at Underhill Hub in Underhill Park on July 24th from 5.30 PM - 7.30 PM on July 24th to learn more about how we can protect these incredible marine mammals.

Craft and Flea Market at the Brangwyn Hall 👚

Craft and Flea take over the Brangwyn Hall on Sunday July 28th from 10 AM - 4 PM for an event described as “an authentic twist on a traditional craft market”. Stalls from illustration to vintage bric-a-brac, plants to jewellery, sustainable products to food, and ceramics to candles have been hand-picked based on their quality and on-trend style.

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN 🌞

Grown-ups, I want to help you with at least one idea every day to keep the children busy throughout the summer holiday - either free, cheap, or a bit more of a treat. Like this list? Please forward it to a friend who desperately needs it!

Monday July 22nd 🦖

• Pop along to the middle of the Quadrant shopping centre on Monday July 22nd at 11 AM, 12 PM and 2 PM for a prehistoric encounter with Dinomania - including t-rex, raptors, triceratopses, and baby dinos!

• Swansea Council Sport & Health team are hosting a Mon-Fri Balance Bike course for children aged 2-6 years old at The Barn @Evolve in Gorseinon. It will involve fun obstacle races, skills, relay races, balance challenges and more. The 9.30 AM session is for beginners, while the 10.15 AM session is for children transitioning to pedal bikes. Ages 2-6 | Free | Booking required.

• Swansea Indoor Bowls Club in Plasmarl is offering free bowls sessions to children between the ages of 8-16 on July 22th, 24th, 25th, and 26th between 10 AM - 2PM. The sessions are free for kids, but an accompanying adult must pay £2.50 per hour. Booking required.

Tuesday 23rd July 🏸

• As part of Cwmdonkin Park's 150th birthday celebrations, Swansea Council is hosting a free multi-sports event on July 23rd between 12 PM - 2PM. Just turn up to try your hand at tennis and pickleball, amongst other sports.

• It's Tots Disco at Mumbles Pier every Tuesday throughout the summer holidays, with new special visitors every week. To kick things off, Bluey and Bingo will be dropping by for two sessions - at 10.30 AM and 11.30 AM. £5 per child | Booking required.

Wednesday July 24th 🍿

• The Taliesin Summer Kids Club has family-friendly films on throughout the summer. The Garfield Movie is showing at 3 PM. Tickets are £2.50 each, or book 5+ films at once and all tickets are just £1 each.

• Buzz down to Swansea Community Farm in Fforestfach for Family Beekeeping Day, where you’ll visit a hive, make your own bees wax candle, and learn all about these amazing creatures. There are two free sessions from 10 AM - 12 PM and 1 PM - 3 PM. Age 7+ with accompanying adult. Free. Booking required.

• Nature activity days are being held at The Shared Garden @ Summit Good every Tuesday during the summer holidays, from 10 AM - 2 PM. Get your hands in the soil with planting, cooking, outdoor building, and nature-focused arts and craft, and more. Age 9-14 | Free (donations welcome) | Booking required. Bring your own lunch.

• Join XL Wales at the National Waterfront Museum at 12 PM and 2 PM to turn cardboard boxes into cool creations in its Summer Cardboard Box Big Build. This workshop will use Makedo - simple tools that facilitate the creation of something new from up-cycled, low-tech cardboard. Age 7+ | £2.50 | Booking required | Bring 3-4 cardboard boxes.

• Join artists Jade Price and Ava Tier at the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery at 10.30 AM for the start of a free six-week project to develop your illustrative skills in character design and RPG map-making. Ages 12-16 | Booking required | Bring four ordinary dice.

Thursday July 25th 🍕

• Head to LUSH on Oxford Street on July 25th at 12 PM for the LUSH X TMNT Pizza Party, celebrating reusable and plastic-free fun. Dive into an exciting session of bubble bar and pizza-making, games, and other turtley awesome activities. All ages | £15.00 | Booking required.

• Join in at St Mary's Church in central Swansea for its Kids Holiday Funday from 10.30 AM - 2 PM. There'll be crafts, games, and a free colouring book for every child that attends. Plus, a free lunch is provided.

• Swansea Museum is hosting its first summer holiday workshop, with the chance to reimagine and recreate Swansea Bay from Mumbles to the Museum in a 3D model using a mixture of themes and materials. The first session’s theme is Making the Sky: clouds, birds, kites, planes, hot air balloons, sunsets, etc., from 10 AM - 1 PM. Free. No booking required.

  Friday July 26th 🐖

• Pop along to Swansea Community Farm in Fforestfach for adventure play, den building, and to meet the animals, with a different nature theme every. Sessions are every Friday throughout the holidays, 10 AM - 12 PM and 1 PM - 3PM. Free. No booking required.

• Drop by the Mission Gallery from 11 AM - 12.30 PM to make your own summer postcards to document all the wonderful fun the holidays will bring, plus learn how to make funky and spontaneous marbled paper. Age 7+ | £7 + booking fee.

• A quiet workshop designed to be autism and neurodivergent-friendly - stop by the Dylan Thomas Centre at 10 AM where you can make your own mini comic library. Design and draw characters, build your story, and create an eye-catching cover. Age 7+ | Free | Booking required

• Join Plantawe for its big Summer Party - an afternoon of crafts, play and lots of fun for all the family at Waverley Park, Clydach from 1 PM - 4 PM. Free.
  

• Travel back to the prehistoric era at Plantasia Tropical Zoo, where dinosaurs once roamed the jungle. Encounter life-sized dinosaurs, adorable baby dinos, and Ranger Chris with his enthusiastic team. Booking required.

Saturday 27th July ⚽

• The Friends of Dunvant Park are celebrating Super Saturday on July 27th from 10 AM - 2 PM. Get down to the park for tons of free family fun including girls football skills, trampolines, pickleball skills, superhero characters, Gower pizza, and more.

• Cwmdonkin Park’s birthday celebrations continue with its big Family Fun Day between 1 PM and 5 PM. 

• There's family fun at Parc Llewelyn in Morriston on Saturday, too. Join in between 12 PM and 4PM for face painting, crazy characters, a raffle, ice-cream and refreshments for the grown-ups.

Sunday 28th July

• Head to Morriston Leisure Centre for a free bouncy castle play session for children aged 2-12 years between 9.30 AM and 10.30 AM. Free. Booking required.

COUNCIL NEWS

Major New Funding for Swansea Transport Links 🏗️

Swansea Council has secured over £7 million from the Welsh Government to enhance transport links and promote sustainable travel. Key projects include the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro, new real-time bus information, and the development of transport hubs in Mumbles and Morriston. Additional funds will increase electric vehicle charging points and expand walking and cycling routes.

WEATHER

Monday
18🌡️ 11 | 🌦️ | 65% | 💨 NE 10mph

Tuesday
18 🌡️ 10 | 🌤️ | 0% | 💨 SE 10 mph

Wednesday
18 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️ | 20% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Thursday
19 🌡️ 12 | 🌧️ | 70% | 💨 NE 11 mph

Friday
18 🌡️ 12 | 🌤️ | 20% | 💨 E 10 mph

Saturday
18 🌡️ 12 | 🌦️ | 40% | 💨E 10 mph

Sunday
18 🌡️ 11 | 🌤️ | 50% | 💨 E 9 mph

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 22nd July

Queens Hotel | Panic Station | 9PM

Wednesday 24th

CU Mumbles | The Geoff Eales Quartet | 8 PM
The Bunkhouse | Acoustic Showcase | 6 PM

Friday 26th

The Hanbury | Superhans | 9 PM
The Oyster House | Friday’s Live Music | 7.30 PM

Saturday 27th

Brangwyn Hall | Dunvant Male Choir Patrons Concert | 7 PM
The Hanbury | The Barhounds | 9 PM
Gordon Wride | Uplands Market | 11.30 AM
Hogarths | The Greedy Souls ARE Oasis | 9 PM

Sunday 28th

Waterloo Stores | Live Music Sunday | 8PM

SPORTS NEWS ⚽

Swansea City have signed Eom Ji-sung from Gwangju FC on a four-year contract, pending visa approval and international clearance. The 22-year-old South Korean midfielder is Swansea's second signing this transfer window. He's scored 20 goals in 108 K League appearances and made a memorable debut for South Korea in 2022.

THANKS

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