Large-scale cultural and sporting events are providing a substantial boost for the Gwynedd economy and are drawing the area’s many attractions to a global audience.

This is the message from Gwynedd Council as the area gears up for a number of major events this September.

On 7 to10 September, Portmeirion and the Dwyryd estuary will once again provide the stunning backdrop for the ever-popular Festival Number 6. The Commonwealth Games baton relay will visit the festival as well as a number of Gwynedd locations on 8 September as part of its tour throughout Wales. In addition, adrenaline seekers from near and far are expected flock to Dinas Mawddwy for the internationally renowned Red Bull Hardline downhill mountain bike race on 24 September.

Councillor Ioan Thomas, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said:

“Over recent years, Gwynedd has rightfully gained a reputation as a fantastic location for cultural events and large scale outdoor activities. As a Council we are incredibly proud of the events being held here annually and the benefit they bring to the county. “These events highlight some of the most stunning landscapes in the country and raise Gwynedd’s profile on a national and international stage. We hope that those taking part in various outdoor activity events or attending a music festival in the county will return for another visit and tell others about the warm Gwynedd welcome they have received. “These sorts of events give young people fantastic opportunities to try out something new and we hope shows them that Gwynedd is an attractive and vibrant place to live and work.”

As well as hosting international artists like the Flaming Lips, this year’s Festival Number 6 is once again providing a fantastic opportunity for young local performers to showcase their talents on the ‘The Woodcutter’s’ stage. Over 20 artists from the area will be performing over the weekend as part of a local community music collective, being run by CEG in conjunction with Gwynedd Council.

Along with such invaluable opportunities for Gwynedd’s young people and the opportunity the local Côr y Brythoniaid have to showcase their talents annually, the festival also brings in around £3 million to the county’s economy every year. The event organisers alone spend over £500,000 directly in Gwynedd’s economy through local suppliers and firms.

Gwynedd is also home to a wide-range of sporting events like the increasingly popular Red Bull Hardline event. Not one for the fainthearted, the Dinas Mawddwy event has been hailed as one of the toughest downhill mountain bike races in the world, with this year’s event the fourth time the event returns to the hills of Dyfi Valley.

The intense course, built by Dan Atherton from Corris, is already sold-out, but you can keep up with the action online. Last year, the fast and the furious action saw millions viewing the action from Dinas Mawddwy on various digital platforms – 18 million views on Facebook and 3.4 million views on YouTube alone.

This year’s event will also feature a community cycling event on Saturday, 23 September before the main event gets underway on the Sunday.

For more information about Festival Number 6 visit http://festivalnumber6.com/, and for further details about the Red Bull Hardline event, go to https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/events/hardline

More details about the Queen’s Commonwealth Baron visit to Gwynedd on 8 September which will see the baton visiting:

Zip World, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd

Dolgellau

Portmeirion

Porthmadog

Pwllheli

Details available on http://teamwales.cymru/en/queensbatonrelay2017/