Build a Guy Competition

How do we take part?

The Build a Guy (or Gal) competition will form the main part of a Fawkes Fest celebration. The competition will be open, not only to to all primary schools in the Vale, but to the general public including all uniformed groups, playgroups etc as well as individual families. The community will be able to get involved and we will be encouraging the creation of green guys (and gals) using materials we can recycle after the event and showing them in a gallery on the railings along Barry Island Promenade.

Step 1 is to register that you are entering. This is what you are doing now. 

Step 2 is to go to www.beachacademywales.com/fawkesfest and download your ‘HOW TO MAKE A GREEN GUY (OR GAL)’ pack.  

Step 3 is to bring your guy (or gal) to us. Once created (assembled) all guys and gals will need to be brought down (Traditionally guys were pushed in prams and wheelbarrows!) to Barry Island Promenade on the following days and times. There will be a Beach Academy competition desk at the Western end of the Prom near Marcos Cafe where you will need to sign in your competition entry.  

Wednesday 3rd November between 2:30pm and 6:30pm

Thursday 4th November between 2:30pm and 6:30pm

Friday 5th November between 12:30pm and 6pm

Once signed in, your guy (or gal) will be placed in our outdoor ‘Fawkes Fest Guy Gallery’ along the promenade railings at Whitmore Bay (Barry Island Beach). The idea is that this gallery, exhibiting the guys and gals, is visible to all in the community, as is tradition, to passers by, locals and visitors to the area.

How will the guys (or gals) be judged?

The public will be the judges!   Each guy (or gal) will have an old fashioned numbered jar with it labelled ‘Penny for the Best Guy’. Passers by simply place a penny in the jar of their favourites. At the end of the competition we count up the pennies in each jar. The ones with the most wins. This also encourages families to go down to the beach to put pennies in their school one! Penny counting will take place by the Beach Academy team between 7pm and 7:45pm.

Winners will be announced at 8pm on Friday 5th November on the Promenade and the prize winner awarded our Top Guy Trophy.

Can I bring, or make, a guy (or gal) to add to the Promenade Guy Gallery but not enter the competition?

Yes of course - Only guys (or gals) with numbered jars will be judged. If you change your mind, pop to the Beach Academy welcome desk and we can give you a competition entry.

What happens to all the pennies?

100% of all monies (penny jars) collected will be given to the The Welsh Burns Centre in Swansea.

What happens to all the guys (or gals)?

They will be dismantled and all materials separated ready for recycling by the Vale Council.