Here is your ultimate guide to events in Hay-on-Wye during Hay Festival over the 10 days the Festival’s run. If you are looking for a guide on things to do at Hay Festival or How the Light Gets In, this guide is not for you. This is a list showcasing independent events running in Hay-on-Wye between 23rd May – 2nd June 2024. Hay-on-Wye has so much to offer including events, artisan-makers and independent shops, so you simply must hit the high street during your visit to Hay Festival.
Events in Hay-on-Wye during Hay Festival
Thursday 23rd May
- Market Day in Hay
- 12pm Appeal for Palestine, art, music and meditation at The Globe at Hay
- 8pm World Folk Music with Slippery Slope Trio at Old Electric
Friday 24th May
- 11am – Book reading and signing with Tiffany Murray My Family & Other Rockstars (memoir) at North Books
- 8pm-11pm – Alt Hay Dark Disco at Hay Parish Hall
- 8pm The Skuts live music at The Globe at Hay
- 8pm Local Improvisors Growers Union and members of The Breaks at Old Electric
- 8pm Live Jazz at The Old Black Lion
Saturday 25th May
- Fair on the Square weekend street party in Hay town centre
- Craft Fair at Hay Castle
- Festival Fair at The Globe at Hay
- 10am Making paper flowers out of old books workshop with Kate Kato at Hay Castle
- 11am free concert music on Hay Castle lawn
- 2pm free concert music on Hay Castle lawn
- 3pm Book reading and signing with Ruth Searle Twisted Obsession (fiction) at North Books
- 5:30pm Author’s Talk Luise Kamisek Binar at Gay on Wye
- 7pm – There’s a Picture Book for that, free talk by local illustrator Caryn Schafer. Bethesda Evangelical Church
- 7pm The Duchess of Mars EP release party at The Globe at Hay
- 8pm Chilled Balearic beats from DJ Heepsy and Graham W at Old Electric
- 8pm Live Jazz at The Old Black Lion
Sunday 26th May
- Fair on the Square weekend street party in Hay town centre
- Craft Fair at Hay Castle
- Festival Fair at The Globe at Hay
- 5:30-7:30pm Interactive Exhibition Leigh Davies’ Cymeriad Vol.1 at Gay on Wye
- 8pm Gypsy jazz from Paris Guitar Project at Old Electric
- 8pm Return of The Spouse with Jakeyboy and Yungold live music at The Globe at Hay
Monday 27th May
- Fair on the Square weekend street party in Hay town centre
- Craft Fair at Hay Castle
- 11am-4pm Sarah Kirby Print Demonstration – free event, drop in and have a go at printing at Hay Castle
- 4pm Book reading and signing with BBC Arts Show presenter Gary Raymond Abandon All Hope (non fiction) at North Books
- 8pm Grit pop trio Eaten by Lions at Old Electric
Tuesday 28th May
- 11:30am Authori’s Talk Frances Spurrier The Winchester Codex Gay on Wye
- 8pm Little Hoedown playing Appalachian folk tunes at Old Electric
Wednesday 29th May
- Book reading and signing with Bridget Ashton The Hay Girls Trilogy (memoir) at North Books
- Charity Jazz night at Hay Distillery raising funds for Hay & District Dial-a-Ride
Thursday 30th May
- 2-5pm Everlasting dried flower crown making with Down by the River at Hay Castle booking required.
- 4-5pm Gin tasting experience at Hay Distillery booking required
- 6pm – 10:30pm – Alt_Hay (Live) Music for Books at Hay Parish Hall
- 8pm Irish fiddle and Tap from Jess Collins and Charlie Wheatley then Katus and the Gift Horses with Alan Cooper, Sonia Hammond and Moon River at Old Electric
Friday 31st May
- 10am-4pm Historial Fiction Writing Workshop with bestselling author Barbara Erskine at Hay Castle booking required.
- 4-5pm Gin tasting experience at Hay Distillery booking required
- 7-11pm – Alt_Hay The Breaks & Friends at Hay Parish Hall
- 7:30pm Folk Music with Andy Skellam at Hay Distillery
- 8pm Americana duo Outpost Drive at Old Electric
- 8pm Open Mic Night at Globe at Hay
- 8pm Live Jazz at The Old Black Lion
Saturday 1st June
- Hay Saturday Market, local producers, street food and makers market.
- 10am – 4pm Indian style embroidery workshop with Susan Smith at Hay Castle booking required.
- 4pm Book reading and signing with Meredith Miller Fall River (fiction) at North Books
- 6:30-10:30pm – Alt_Hay Hay Cult Cinema Club screening 2 cult films at Hay Parish Hall
- 8pm Village Soul, roots electro disco vinyl at Old Electric
- 8pm Live Jazz at The Old Black Lion
Sunday 2nd June
- Artisan Market in the Buttermarket
- 10am-5pm Basket weaving workshop at Hay Castle booking required.
- 11am Book readings and signing with Stephen Palmer I am Taurus (fact-based fiction) and Angela Jones Wild Swimming in the Wye & Adventures with your Canine Friend (river guide) at North Books
- 7-11pm – Alt Hay Live Music : Local Talent in Hay Parish Hall
Other events in Hay-on-Wye during Hay Festival
- Hay Makers Festival Exhibition
- Clive Hicks-Jenkins art exhibition at The Table and Jo Davies & Siwan Gillick at The Chair Art Gallery
- Chapters Untold with original artworks from Artist Rachael Blakeway at Oil&Oak
- April a Lady in Hay exhibition at Hay Castle
- Byzantine Icon Exhibition, Christina Watson and Patro Birov St John’s Chapel, Hay-on-Wye
- Yoga and Massage at Larchwood Studio booking required [email protected] or Hannah at [email protected]
Places to eat & drink in Hay-on-Wye
We already have a blog dedicated to the best places to eat in Hay-on-Wye. Here we have listed pop-ups that are happening in Hay-on-Wye during the Hay Festival period.
- Japanese supper club at Belmont House – [email protected]
- Hay Castle Bar and Churros in the honesty bookshop courtyard.
- Saturday 1st June – Indonesian Supper Cub at The Granary at Hay
- Food and drinks at Larchwood Studio with Trigg Food and Sobremesa Drinks
- 25th/26th May 12-8pm Secret Wine Bar at the Walled Garden, Blemont Road
- Origin Pizza are popping up all over the place, check their socials for locations.
- The Wobbly Owl Cidery and Farm Shop opens this week. Pop in for daily Cider Tastings.
- The Pizza Box Hay will be at the Fair on the Square and Saturday Markets.
Hopefully our guide to events in Hay-on-Wye during Hay Festival is useful for your visit. If you feel like extending your trip to Hay-on-Wye then check out our riverside glamping accommodation, a short walk from the centre of Hay. Hopefully see you in Hay-on-Wye at some of these fabulous events.
Painting of the square on Hay-on-Wye market day by local artist Vivienne Luxton www.vivienneluxton.co.uk.