Scotland’s biggest community festival, Glasgow’s West End Festival, celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, with a packed programme of events from Friday June 3rd to Sunday 26th.
Festival events will focus on Kelvingrove Park, making use of the refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand. A massed samba event, a festival of singing, a big band concert and a series of rock concerts are some of the highlights.
Festival chairman, Liz Scobie, said: “Our 21st birthday is a truly significant milestone. We have evolved from a few events to a programme of more than 400 and the participation of hundreds of thousands of people of all ages supported by a small army of volunteers.
“WEF remains a charity and we are extremely grateful to all the unsung heroes who give their time and energy to make our festival happen. As we take time to develop our new-look festival, we have decided that there will not be a parade in Byres Road this year, whilst making plans for it to return bigger and better in the years to come.”
Festival director, Michael Dale, added: “We continue to have a packed programme of events organised by west end businesses, venues and promoters. These will include Oran Mor’s “All Dayer”, the Queen Margaret Drive and Gibson Street Galas and a large “Festival of Singing” featuring some 20 choirs and choral groups.”
The West End Festival is supporting The Big Lunch on Sunday, 12 June as part of a nationwide community project to get as many people as possible to have lunch with their neighbours in streets, gardens and parks throughout the UK.
The full program of events will be launched next month.