Celebrate St David’s Day in St Davids
The smallest city with the biggest heart.
Tucked away on Pembrokeshire’s wild western edge, St Davids is the birthplace and resting place of Wales’ patron saint. With its ancient cathedral, sweeping coastal paths and strong Welsh identity, there really is no better place to celebrate St David’s Day than in the city that carries his name.
A Little History
St David (Dewi Sant), a 6th-century monk and preacher, founded a monastic community here in what was then a remote, windswept corner of Wales. His final words, “Gwnewch y pethau bychain” – “Do the little things” – remain a guiding sentiment across the nation.
Over time, pilgrims travelled from across Britain and beyond to visit his shrine at St Davids Cathedral, and St Davids became a spiritual centre of Wales. Today, that same sense of heritage and community fills the streets each 1st of March.
Celebrating St David’s Day here isn’t just symbolic – it’s deeply rooted in the city’s history. From cathedral services to community gatherings, everything feels authentic, heartfelt and proudly Welsh.
What’s On: St David’s Day Weekend
Whether you’re visiting for a day or making a weekend of it, there’s something happening from dawn to dusk.
Friday 27th February
9.30am – Eisteddfod, City Hall
9.30am-4.30pm – Journey of the Legends Trail, Oriel y Parc
11am-3pm – Make & Take: Dragon Headdresses & Boar Masks, Oriel y Parc
7.30pm – Army Bands in Concert, St Davids Cathedral
Saturday 28th February
7.45am – Ras Dewi Sant Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K
9am-4pm – St David’s Day Market, Cross Square
9.30am-4.30pm – Journey of the Legends Trail, Oriel y Parc
10am-2pm – Croeso Cymreig & Light Refreshments, City Hall
10.30am-4.30pm – Craft Fair, Oriel y Parc
1.30pm – St David’s Day Parade
3pm – Clay Workshop, Oriel y Parc
7.30pm – Cyngerdd Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, St Davids Cathedral
Sunday 1st March - St David’s Day
8.00am – Eucharist, St Davids Cathedral
10.00am–12.30pm – St David Pilgrimage, Porthclais
10.30am – St Davids RFC Mini & Juniors Cup Challenge, St Davids Rugby Club
11.15am – Pilgrim’s Walk from St Non’s Well
11.30am-11.55am – Bellringing before the Blessing of the City
12 noon – Illumination of the St David’s Day Stone, Oriel y Parc
12.30pm – 2pm – Sunday Lunch, Penrhiw Priory
12.15pm – Blessing of the City by the Bishop, Oriel y Parc
12.30pm – Prayers & Anointing at the Shrine of St David, St Davids Cathedral
1.00pm – Pembrokeshire Motorbike Run, Oriel y Parc
4.00pm – Patronal Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir, St Davids Cathedral
7.00pm – St David’s Day Jazz Night, The Brunch House
Why Celebrate Here?
In St Davids, St David’s Day isn’t just marked, it’s lived.
You can walk in the footsteps of pilgrims in the morning, browse local makers in the afternoon, and end your day listening to world-class music in the cathedral. Add in dramatic coastal scenery, welcoming cafés and the unmistakable sense of Welsh pride, and it becomes more than a celebration, it becomes an experience.
If you’re thinking of joining us, make a weekend of it. Stay a little longer, explore the coast, and truly immerse yourself in the city’s story.
After all, where better to celebrate Wales than in its smallest city, built around our patron saint?
