HISTORY

AberFest is a Celtic cultural festival celebrating all things Cornish and Breton that takes place every second year in Cornwall, UK, on Easter weekend. AberFest alternates with the Breizh-Kernow festival, which is held in Brandivy and Bignan in Brittany.

Both festivals are unusual in that the main focus of the events is on families

and individuals from one country staying with families and individuals from the other, against a wide background of cultural activities.

In 1987, the Breizh-Kernow Festival was started with the intention of it being at the Breton part of a Festival alternating between Brittany and Cornwall. The Breizh – Kernow festival was then held most years in Brandivy and later included Bignan. This one sided arrangement persisted until 2002.

Ron Williams had been a very active individual with many voluntary organisations in Falmouth and throughout Cornwall. He was widely known and respected. His friendship with the organisers of Breizh-Kernow and their increasing families grew stronger, with Williams spending more and more time in his retirement in Brandivy, Brittanym where he became increasingly well known and popular.

Ron Williams died on 7 December 2001. As a memorial, "Ronnie Fest" took place in Falmouth at Easter 2002. This was a weekend celebration of Ron's life, celebrating his love for both Cornwall and Brittany. After a return to Brittany at Easter 2003, the Festival has returned to Cornwall as "AberFest" every second year since.

For more information, please see here.