West End Festival facts for kids
The West End Festival is a super fun yearly event that happens in the West End area of Glasgow, Scotland. It's a huge celebration of music, art, and community spirit!
Contents
Festival History: How It Started
The West End Festival began in 1996. A person named Michael Dale started it as a small local event. It was mainly focused around Byres Road in Glasgow.
Since then, it has grown a lot! It's now the biggest festival in Glasgow's calendar. Events run for 16 days in June, making it a long and exciting celebration. The festival has grown mostly on its own, with very little money from the local government or arts groups. Its main event, the carnival parade, is the second largest carnival in the UK! Only the famous Notting Hill carnival in London is bigger. In 2006, the parade day happened at the same time as the Glasgow Mela. Organizers called it "Scotland's Mardi Gras," and about 100,000 people came out to enjoy the streets and parks.
What Happens at the Festival: Main Events
During the festival, there are tons of cool things to do! You can find lots of live music, outdoor plays, comedy shows, and drama performances. There are also guided walks, interesting talks, and film screenings. Kids have their own special events too!
Many local street parties and markets pop up, where you can find unique items and enjoy the lively atmosphere. A very popular part of the festival is the Carnival Parade and Street Party. This big event happens on the first Sunday and is full of energy and fun.
The festival has also hosted some unique events over the years. For example, in 2004, the band Belle & Sebastian played a free outdoor concert in the beautiful Glasgow Botanic Gardens. In 2008, the famous Globe Theatre from London performed "Romeo and Juliet" at the University of Glasgow.
Some events happen every year. These include "Bard in the Botanics," which started in 1999 and features plays by Shakespeare. There's also a Children's Author series, where famous writers like Julia Donaldson come to meet young readers. The Gibson Street Gala, which began in 2004, is another popular event. In 2010, over 15,000 people attended it! That same year, the festival even added West End Highland Games at Hughenden Sport Fields, which was a new and exciting addition.
Festival Achievements: Awards and Recognition
The West End Festival has received some great recognition! The Independent newspaper, a big newspaper in the UK, listed it as one of the top 30 festivals in all of Europe. Only two other Scottish festivals made that list: the Edinburgh Festival and T in the Park.
The free concert by Belle and Sebastian in 2004 was also a huge hit. The Scotsman newspaper voted it one of the top 20 concerts of all time in 2007! In 2007, the travel website Trip Advisor even voted the West End Festival as the number one reason to visit Glasgow. This shows how popular and loved the festival is!
Images for kids
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The 2002 parade heading through Glasgow Botanic Gardens
