Saturday 10th June and Sunday 11th June 2023
National Botanic Garden of Wales Family Harp Weekend
The eleventh Family Harp Weekend at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
The Harp is the National Instrument of Wales, yet many people have never touched one.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales aims to change that for all adventurous and curious visitors to the garden this Summer!
On the Saturday 10th June and Sunday 11th June the NBGW host its eleventh annual harp weekend organised by Shelley Fairplay, a harpist who is deeply passionate about engaging people with the harp and the hugely diverse music it has to offer.
Come and join us for the eleventh annual family harp weekend at the National Botanic Garden of Wales (10:00am to 4.00pm) to hear Shelley Fairplay’s Harp Revelry concert, try the harp for the first time at a Hands on Harps workshop, bring little children to a Tiny Hands on Harps session, listen to the Cardiff based ensemble music including harpists from Dynamic Harps, the Wales Clarsach Society, Harping On and The Fairplay Harp School, become a Harp Detective following a trail around the Great Glass House and join us for harp crafts, infusing make your very own harp crown!
Do you already play the harp? Brilliant! You are invited to join the NBGW Flash Mob Harp Ensemble, where you can come and play in the magical setting amongst the flowers! If you have just started playing, played for years, or simple own a harp and want to hang out with harpists then bring your instrument along to play in an open rehearsal in the morning and then perform in the afternoon. Music will be given out on the day to suite all levels, reading or not reading music. If you would like to attend please sign up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<
All events are FREE once you have entered the gardens, for information on the National Botanic Garden of Wales admission times and prices please visit their website by clicking this link: NBGW
Runtime of events on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June 2023:
All events are FREE once you have entered the gardens, for information on the National Botanic Garden of Wales admission times and prices please visit their website by clicking this link: NBGW
Full details of Events:
10.00am – 4.00pm Harp On Desk – Great Glass House
Come along to the ‘Harp On’ desk to find out more about the harp weekend!
Here you can book your workshop space, pick up your harp detective trail sheet, access the harp craft table (with harp crown, harp mask and drawing activities), pick up a timetable, and ask any questions you might have regarding the weekend’s events!
This stand will be run by wonderful volunteers, friends and performers of Dynamic Harps.
10.30am-12.00pm NBGW Flash Mob Harp Ensemble Open Rehearsal
Do you already play the harp? Brilliant! You are invited to join the NBGW Flash Mob Harp Ensemble, where you can come and play in the magical setting amongst the flowers! If you have just started playing, played for years, or simple own a harp and want to hang out with harpists then bring your instrument along to play in an open rehearsal in the morning and then perform in the afternoon. Music will be given out on the day to suite all levels, reading or not reading music. If you would like to attend please sign up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<
Not a harpist? You are welcome to come along and listen to us preparing to perform in the lunchtime concert, an interesting behind the scenes experience!
12.15pm “Tiny Hands on Harps”: Parent and Toddler/Child session (15 minutes)
Try the lap harps together and enjoy much loved nursery rhymes and stories! This workshops is aimed at children 2-6 with one to one parental support in the session.
The 15-minute children’s session are free once you have paid for your admission in to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Tickets will available on the day at the ‘Harp on’ stand or can be booked in advance clicking here and signing up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<.
All children must be accompanied by an adult sitting alongside them during this event.
12.15pm “Hands on Harps” Workshop (45 minutes)
Always wanted to try the harp? Come along to try our National Instrument of Wales, with harpist Shelley Fairplay
Workshop will include demonstrations on a Pedal, Celtic and Lap Harp, then along with Shelley’s guidance, you can have a go at playing one of the fifteen 17 string lap harps available on the day. Maximum of 30 people per session, adults and children aged 7 up. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
A place on the workshop is free once you have paid for your admission in to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Tickets will available on the day at the ‘Harp on’ stand or can be booked in advance clicking here and signing up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<. 
1.30pm Harp Ensemble Music Performed by Dynamic Harps and Friends! (45 minutes)
Come and enjoy hearing the National Botanic Garden of Wales Harp Flash Mob perform, some harpists will have joined us for the day and others will be students of all ages and abilities from Dynamic Harps harp ensemble, Harping On, Wales Clarsach Society and The Fairplay Harp School. This is an open event so come along and have a listen!
2.30pm Harp Concert – Shelley Fairplay presents ‘Harp Revelry in the Garden’
Harp Revelry at the National Botanic Garden of Wales with harpist Shelley Fairplay. Revel in the sound of a hundred harp strings, in a garden of a thousands plants, birds, and butterflies – and the revelry of music from Celtic roots, Classical melodies, Pop tunes. Join Shelley Fairplay, a harpist with two very different kinds of harps: the classic 6’ high concert harp – and a new harp-guitar hybrid: a wearable, carbon-fibre electric harp.
“Shelley’s concert, just ELECTRIC!” Ani N.
“Audience spellbound from start to finish.” Helen B.
For further information regarding Shelley please visit: www.harpwales.com
3.15pm “Tiny Hands on Harps”: Parent and Toddler/Child session (15 minutes)
Try the lap harps together and enjoy much loved nursery rhymes and stories! This workshops is aimed at children 2-6 with one to one parental support in the session.
The 15-minute children’s session are free once you have paid for your admission in to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Tickets will available on the day at the ‘Harp on’ stand or can be booked in advance clicking here and signing up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<.
All children must be accompanied by an adult sitting alongside them during this event.
3.30pm “Hands on Harps” Workshop (45 minutes)
Always wanted to try the harp? Come along to try our National Instrument of Wales, with harpist Shelley Fairplay
Workshop will include demonstrations on a Pedal, Celtic and Lap Harp, then along with Shelley’s guidance, you can have a go at playing one of the fifteen 17 string lap harps available on the day. Maximum of 30 people per session, adults and children aged 7 up. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
A place on the workshop is free once you have paid for your admission in to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Tickets will available on the day at the ‘Harp on’ stand or can be booked in advance clicking here and signing up for FREE by clicking >>HERE<<
Make your own Harp Crown, Harp Mask or try
your hand at Drawing a Harp! Craft Table– All Day Event (10am-4pm)
Do you like to stick and glue? Do you like to colour in? Then this activity is for you!
Brand new activity for this year! Come and create your very one harp crown to wear for the day! Harp Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses can parade around the garden!
This is an unsupervised activity so toddlers and children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times. The Crowns should fit adults too, you are welcome to make one whatever your age!
Harp Detectives – All Day Event (10am-4pm)
Harp Detectives – take part in an exciting trail of discovery! This activity is designed for children to explore and discover for themselves interesting information related to the harp whilst journeying around the beautiful Great Glass House. Collect your trail sheet from the Harp On desk in the Great Glass House. Successful harp detectives may return to the Harp On desk to receive a sticker and pencil as recognition of their resourceful exploring!
What next?!
Has this weekend awoken your inner wannabe harpist?! Why not join Shelley Fairplay’s brand new online START HARP class where you can learn to play the harp from the very beginning using lap, lever or pedal harp. Need a harp? Shelley will be happy to help you find one, just email her on info@harpwales.com
Over the weekend, Shelley’s three CD’s will be available to buy from the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
From Bogotá, Colombia, Diego Laverde Rojas has been playing the ‘Llanera’ (low land) Harp since 1982. This particular harp design is the product of the European influence, and has been adopted in a beautiful area between Colombia and Venezuela called ‘Los Llanos’ (the plains).
Shelley Fairplay is a harpist based in Wales, UK. She began her journey as a harpist in 1991. Following a degree and masters in music (BMus/MMus), Shelley released her debut CD “The Cherished Harp’ featuring her own arrangements of traditional music from the British Isles. Her concert series “The Three Strands: Passion, Sorrow and Joy” lead to the release of her second CD of the same name. Shelley’s latest concert series “HarpOsphere” features original works along with her arrangements of popular, classical and traditional tunes. Her concerts include traditional playing alongside performances on electric harp with effects pedals including looper. Shelley performs throughout the UK and internationally her harp has taken her as far as America and Hong Kong. Her ensemble ‘Dynamic Harps’ perform music predominantly arranged by Shelley from films, pop, shows, classical, Jazz and Celtic genres and original music she has written. Shelley has an online harp school offering courses with individual support for beginner to intermediate harpists ‘Start Harp’ (
