The streets of Cardiff city centre were packed today - and not just with the usual weekend shoppers.
For a parade took place to celebrate the fact that the National Eisteddfod is being held in Cardiff Bay in 2018.
The Cardiff National Eisteddfod Proclamation Festival was held outside the City Hall and there was a whole host of performances to give people a taste of what's to come when the major event is in the Welsh capital during summer 2018.
It started with a parade from National Museum Cardiff which wound its way through the city centre back to the lawn outside City Hall for the proclamation ceremony.
Historically, the Eisteddfod’s intention to visit an area must be proclaimed at least a year and a day before the beginning of the festival. This is when the List of Competitions is published, which includes information for anyone wishing to compete this year.
A group of young girls from the area also took part in the ceremony as flower girls. The Flower Dance is a colourful part of all the Gorsedd ceremonies, with the girls performing a dance based on the patterns of collecting flowers from the meadows and fields.
Executive Chair, Ashok Ahir said: “This is one of the Eisteddfod’s traditions, and a colourful celebration of what’s in store. This celebration has changed very little over the years, and this is what makes it unique and very traditional.
“Our work over the next year is to convince the people of Cardiff that the Eisteddfod itself, the week at the beginning of August, is far from traditional, and that we’ve changed and developed over the years, creating a vibrant and forward-thinking modern festival, considered to be one of the UK’s largest music and arts festival.
"Competitions are at the heart of everything we do, but there are also hundreds of events and activities happening around the Maes, celebrating all cultural genres."
The Cardiff National Eisteddfod will be held in Cardiff Bay from August 3 to 11, 2018.
Meanwhile, the 2017 Eisteddfod is taking place on Anglesey from August 4 to 12 this year.
