The 2025 Ontario Welsh Festival was held in Niagara Falls, Ontario at the Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview and St. Andrews United Church.

The Noson Lawen showcased many of our talented attendees and also saw hearty participation from Johns’ Boys!

Much fun was had on the Springtime in Niagara tour led by Carys with a stop at the Wayne Gretzky Estates for a winery tour, and enjoying downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario’s prettiest town.

Author Barrie Doyle presented a fascinating seminar about Wales’ own Romeo and Juliet, the ill-fated love of poet, Wil Hopcyn, and Ann Thomas, also known as the Maid of Cefyn Ydfa. This 18th century drama of forbidden love took place high up the Llynfi Valley where the unique hilltop church of Llangynydd is found.

The Welsh Cake Seminar hosted by Leah included some sweet treats to sample and a history of Welsh cakes. After watching a virtual demonstration showing preparation there was time for all to share stories about Welsh cakes.

Cinema Wales featured Gwladfa: Gwilym Bowen Rhys, a 2 hour documentary in which Welsh folk musician Gwilym Bowen Rhys travels to Patagonia to discover the history of the Welsh settlers who emigrated there in 1865. The Welsh language is still alive in many areas and Gwilym is inspired by the history, language, music and culture as he meets many of the locals.

Gwen Davies Dodson was this year’s recipient of The Gold Award and received her much-deserved award at the Gold Award Celebration Banquet on Sat. April 26, 2026.

The sold out Saturday night concert was a triumph featuring award-winning Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, the choir that wowed Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent.