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Glasgow Festivals

Glasgow, the European City of Culture in 1990, is a leading destination in the UK and Europe for city breaks and attracts 3.2 million visitors every year. It is home to a varied programme of cultural events and festivals held throughout the year.

The Glasgow International Festival in May is an integral part of the city's cultural calendar. It displays a colourful mix of contemporary artists, both local and international, at various indoor and outdoor venues in Glasgow, including the Tramway and the Glasgow Arts Fair in George Square amongst others. It also hosts a series of discussions, workshops, art for sale and guided tours on external visual art throughout Glasgow's East End and South Side.

Celebrating the city's maritime history, the Glasgow River Festival attracts huge crowds to the Clydeside through a host of events and activities. The Tall Ship is one of the main attractions at the River Festival, giving visitors a flavour of life on board the Glenlee, which sailed the globe four times throughout her 110 year history. A host of fun-packed events and entertainment are showcased at this vintage ship, from a variety of maritime workshops to the Royal Marines abseil demonstration and the Sea Cadets own version of the Royal Navy Gun.

The World Pipe Band Championships has, for over 75 years, attracted some of the most accomplished pipe bands from all over the world. Held at Glasgow Green, thousands of overseas visitors and musicians attend this weekend event in August to enjoy the finest of Scottish traditions. A host of activities include a Highland Games spectacle and live entertainment to keep visitors of all ages amused. A new addition to Glasgow's traditional Piping scene is the Piping Festival, which has developed around the World Pipe Band Championships.

Staying with the Celtic theme, Glasgow hosts the largest Celtic music festival in the world, known as Celtic Connections. Staged in January each year, it attracts world-renowned solo artists and full-piece bands from Scotland, Ireland and Wales as well as from the Celtic regions of Europe and Canada. In recent years, other traditional folk music genres, particularly from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, have added to an already wonderful mix. This great showcase of traditional Celtic Music has certainly transformed Glasgow into an all-year-festival city and is the perfect panacea to banish those post-New Year blues.

Glasgow also boasts a Jazz Festival and recent additions to its cultural scene include an International Comedy Festival and a Merchant City Festival. Visitors to this vibrant cosmopolitan city are often captivated by the extraordinary range of events and festivals encompassing the artistic spectrum. Why not indulge in a city break to Glasgow and enjoy one of its spectacular festivals. You will be amazed at what the forthcoming events have to offer, musically and artistically.

Dates (2009)	Glasgow Festivals

March 12-29	Magners International Comedy Festival
6-14	Aye Write, Bank of Scotland Book Festival
20-22	The Scottish Golf Show
April 23-26	Glasgow Art Fair
June 13-28	West End Festival
Sept 24-27	Merchant City Festival