HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The Edge Festival is set in the beautiful (and we think very special) village of Solva. We are a village with a stunning harbour on the Pembrokeshire coast. And we are a very active village. We are known for our outdoor activities such as sailing, kayaking, swimming, rowing, walking, climbing and much more. Our widely respected charity Solva Care allow us to support the eldest in our village so they can live here. We have pubs and cafes, galleries and shops. And much more. So its natural that we also have a festival of music, arts, literature, outdoor activities and much more.
The festival sprang up as a direct response to the filming of Under Milk Wood in the village of Solva in 2014, the magic and enthusiasm overwhelmed the village. So a hardy bunch of locals sought to recreate this and suddenly the Edge was born! The Edge is intended to be a celebration of the Arts, Music, Food, Sport, Literature and Film with a passion for all of these branches of the festival there really is something for everyone.
Over the course of the winter months of 2014 and early 2015 the committee raised funds through a series of dining out events, this money with some part funding from Solva Community Council and working in partnership with Literature Wales saw the Edge take form.
The first Edge Festival was held over 4 days in August 2015 with events throughout the village, Solva was once again a hive of bristling activity, whether you were river walking, building bush craft, swimming to the edge, enjoying some quality craft beer and cider, listening to literature, browsing our indoor market or brushing up on your filleting with our chefs demonstrations the Edge had it covered. Despite torrential rainfall our spirits weren’t dampened and the Edge went on. We owe our success to the valued support of local people and businesses and we managed to donate £4,000 of our proceeds to local charities.
The Edge Festival has grown steadily over the last five years. In 2016, the Festival was listed in the Daily Telegraph’s Top 10 Things To Do In Pembrokeshire. There were successful festivals in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The 2022 Edge Festival was again very successful, with three days of great music, writers, dance, food and outdoor activities. Musical highlights included U2UK, Blondied, Sorted our very own Pembrokeshire Ska band, Jodie Marie and many more bands. We had a full programme of poets and writers, a food court, fairground and bouncy castles, craft stalls, escape room and more. You can have a look at some of the highlights here
The Edge festival is run by volunteer residents of Solva
Kay Reynolds (Chair), Selina Taylor, Patrick Nash (Treasurer), Becky Ricketts, David Phillips, Ian McDonald, Colin Reynolds, Jane Wilde, Becky Phillips, Lyn Jenkins, Jimmy Young, Sandra Young, Mikey Phillips, Helen Thomas, Chris Sherman, Ellie Sherwin, Luci Chapman, Gareth Chapman, Alaric Churchill, Major Rob Luck.
Solva Edge festival gained charitable status on 2018. None of the organisers earn any money from the Festival despite the days, weeks and months of volunteer time put in over the year and during the Festival itself. Any financial surplus is donated. In 2022 the Edge raised £7,000 which was given to a wide range of charitable and good causes in and around the village of Solva.
Solva Edge Festival Limited is charity registered in England and Wales, charity registration number 1180538 and a company limited by guarantee, company registration number 10152191. Registered office: 5 Maes Y Forwen, Solva, Haverfordwest, SA62 6TR.