What's on during the day
The event will feature a full programme of activities, including a wide variety of military displays and demonstrations.
There will also be more than 50 stands onsite throughout the day, including Help for Heroes, Llanelli Sea Cadets, Age Cymru Dyfed, Dolen Teifi. Full list to come soon.
We encourage visitors to book tickets in advance to help us manage the event, but you will not be turned away if you attend on the day without a ticket.
Timetable:
11:30 : Event opens
Armed Forces Day will begin with a short parade of standards, led by our local cadets and veteran organisations. The parade will march to the stage area to lay up their standards, marking the formal start of the opening ceremony.
11:40 : Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh and parade.
12:00 : Opening ceremony
12:30 - 15:45 : Afternoon entertainment
Mari Grug will host performances by Meibion Elli, Kelly Ann Watt, Llanelli Royal British Legion Band, NHS Hospital notes and more...
15:45 : Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team *weather dependant*
16:00 : Closing ceremony
17:30 – 19:30 : Evening entertainment
The evening programme of entertainment performers include: Newshan, Liam J Edwards Y Llais 2025 finalist and headlined by West End performer Samuel Wyn Morris.
Day and Evening Host
Mari Grug
Mari Grug is an experienced broadcaster and a familiar face on S4C television for over 20 years. She has presented many of Wales’ leading cultural events, including the National and Urdd Eisteddfodau and the Royal Welsh Show, and is part of the presenting teams for Heno and Prynhawn da. In 2025, her Welsh-language cancer podcast 1 mewn 2 won a British Podcast Award, and she is also an ambassador for Cancer Research Wales.
Artistic Director
Cerith Owens
Cerith Owens is a co-founder of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) and Director of Loud Applause Productions. He is an experienced producer who organises musical concerts and mentors young performers across South Wales.
Parade - The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh
The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh is one of the very few all-brass bands within British Army Music, drawing players from South Wales’s rich brass band heritage and culture to its ranks. All musicians are members of the Army Reserve and commit to the Band around their educational studies or civilian occupations.
Afternoon entertainment performers
Meibion Elli
Formed in Llanelli in 2019, Meibion Elli began as a group of men brought together by a shared love of singing. The choir now numbers over 30 members and performs regularly at community and civic events.
Llanelli Royal British Legion Band
The Llanelli Royal British Legion Band is a wind band made up of former military musicians who regularly perform at commemorative events, ceremonies and charity concerts.
Connor Horton
Connor Horton, 18, from Carmarthen, has received an offer to study voice on the BMus course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Isla Lloyd
Isla Lloyd, 18, from Penarth, attends Howell’s School in Cardiff and is a member of Loud Applause Rising Stars.
Kelly Ann Watt
Kelly Ann Watt is a professional vocalist from Neath who has performed across the UK and internationally as a cruise ship artiste. Her themed and tribute performances continue to entertain audiences worldwide.
Georgia Barley
Georgia Barley, aged 19 from Blackwood, studies Musical Theatre at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is a promising member of Loud Applause Rising Stars.
Rhys Hunter
Rhys Hunter, aged 21 from Mumbles, is a first-year student at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.
Evening entertainment performers
Liam J Edwards
Liam J Edwards from Gorseinon is a First-Class Honours graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a finalist on Y Llais.
Samuel Wyn Morris
Samuel Wyn Morris from Llanelli is a successful international musical theatre performer currently appearing as the Phantom on the International Tour of The Phantom of the Opera.
Lauren Elizabeth Williams
Lauren Elizabeth Williams, aged 23 from Glynneath, has been a member of Loud Applause Rising Stars for five years. This year she is completing her Master’s degree in Vocal and Opera Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Newshan
Newshan is a band from Ceredigion, which has been established for 25 years this year. They entertain audiences across Wales, singing popular songs in Welsh and English. They love to sing and have a lot of fun as a band.
