Dates have been announced for a number of “low-cost” events taking place throughout Glasgow this summer.
Glasgow Mela, Merchant City Festival and the World Pipe Band Championships will be returning in 2024.
Glasgow Life has announced its programme of free or low-cost events and activities featuring everything from arts and music to adventure playground sessions and tennis camps.
The run of family-friendly events kicks off with the multicultural festival of music, Glasgow Mela, on June 23 in Kelvingrove Park.
The event features incredible local, national, and international acts. This year’s line-up includes Apache Indian, Abira Shah, Gtown Desi, Bombay Talkie, and Bhangra Beatles.
Festivalgoers can also sample food from around the world and try out a variety of sports.
The Kelvingrove Bandstand will also host a series of workshops and events which will end with the Glasgow Mela Big Singalong with Glasgow Sitare.
iStockGlasgow’s Summer of Events will continue with the Merchant City Festival, which will take place from July 19 to July 21.
The Merchant City Festival will bring outdoor arts, circus, dance, live music and more to the streets and venues of the Merchant City, including the event sponsors Merchant Square and The Social Hub.
The theme of this year’s Merchant City Festival is Fair: Play – a celebration of Glasgow’s Fair Fortnight tradition when people take time off to rest and play.
Rounding off the summer will be the World Pipe Band Championships on August 16 and 17.
The city will also the Piping Live! festival, an annual event that brings finest pipers and drummers to compete in the ultimate “battle of the bands”, from August 10 to 18.
Last year’s two-day showcase of competitive piping featured 190 bands representing 15 nations and resulted in just under 9,000 pipers and drummers playing together before Scotland’s Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia were crowned 2023 World Champions.
iStockGlasgow Life’s Summer of Fun also features host of things for families and young people to do at museums, libraries, sport facilities and community centres across the city during the school holidays including tennis camps and free swimming at selected pools.
Glasgow Life Sport is also hosting Summer of Fun “10 Years On” Roadshows which offer sports and games for everyone and celebrate a decade of sporting activity in the city following the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Summer Reading Challenge will return to Glasgow Life Libraries encouraging youngsters to read six books of their choice between June 22 and August 10.
The Glasgow Science Festival tour will bring activities like laser golf, balanced bridge building and virtual reality experiences to Riverside Museum (June 10-16), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (June 15 and 16) and Kelvin Hall (June 10-16).
Families can get creative at the Saturday Art Club at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
Kelvin Hall will also host craft activities where people can create animal prints, badges and papercraft elephants
Visitors can also follow the Kelvin Hall emoji trail every day and enjoy its soft play and Clip ‘n’ Climb climbing wall.
Billy Garrett, director of Culture, Tourism and Events at Glasgow Life, said: “There are so many things to look forward to in Glasgow this summer, and events like the Mela, Merchant City Festival and World Pipe Band Championships show why our city is known around the world for its cultural offering.
“There is also plenty for families to enjoy over the summer months, including free family swim sessions, Bookbug classes and our Mini Museums Explorers programme.
“Glasgow’s Summer of Events and Summer of Fun have something for everyone and these programmes also play a major part in improving the mental, physical and economic wellbeing of Glasgow, its people and its visitors.”
More information on upcoming events can be found on the Glasgow Life Summer of Fun webpage.
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