With 100 days to go, the year long Glasgow 850 programme announced

With just 100 days to go until Glasgow starts its yearlong birthday celebration, details have been announced on what people can get involved in throughout 2025.

Article Source: Glasgow 850
Last Updated: 23 September 2024 12:21

Central to the programme, the commissioned, 'signature' activities including a three- day music extravaganza, People's Palace pop-up exhibition and Taste the Place food trail, are the foundations of an exciting line-up next year, offering opportunities for people across the city to participate in Glasgow 850.

These events will be enhanced at the beginning of the year by St. Mungo and Celtic Connections activity. A civic programme of events will also be hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow celebrating Glasgow's famous faces and community champions, and a number of partnerships with businesses will add to the experience for visitors and citizens alike.

In addition, the new Glasgow 850 Festival Fund is supporting established and popular city events to enhance their programmes and their reach in local areas. This fund highlights the incredible talent hailing from Glasgow, but also brings together communities to experience the Glasgow 850 celebrations.

To date, 10 organisations have received a variety of awards of up to £10,000 from the fund to bring their own Glasgow 850 touch to their existing offerings next year. This includes internationally renowned festivals such as Glasgow Comedy Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Piping Live!, and summer favourites including Mela, Merchant City Festival and TRNSMT, which will have a special Glasgow 850 stage showcasing local performers.

In honour of the city's status as UNESCO City of Music, awarded in 2008, the Clyde Chorus will see a number of venues along the banks of the River Clyde, including the SEC Armadillo, host a variety of performers. The celebration stretches the whole musical spectrum, from contemporary to classical, pop to rock, and everything in between. Being held over a three-day period at the end of May, some events will be ticketed, but free to attend.

With the refurbishment of the People's Palace currently underway closing the venue, from February, city residents and visitors will still be able to see some of the social history museum's treasures. A pop-up exhibition and touring photographic exhibition is planned, showing how Glaswegians of the past lived and worked.

In April, Taste the Place, in partnership with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, provides the opportunity for locals and visitors to learn more about the history of Glasgow's hospitality scene and the influence new flavours have brought to the city over the years.

The self-guided, digital, trail will give people the chance to enjoy stories and experiences shared by locals and businesses who have been serving up authentic dishes for generations or have recently made Glasgow their home and brought with them their traditional cuisines.

Partnering with more than 40 eateries from across Glasgow, this unique experience takes food lovers on a cultural and cuisine heritage journey.

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow 850 is a big milestone in our city's journey I'm really looking forward to next year where we can come together through a variety of special events and activities to honour our history, culture, spirit, and people.

“This curated programme, which will be added to throughout the year, with activity in all 23 wards of the city, gives us a reason to celebrate what makes Glasgow unique and explore how we see our future. It's also a chance to share our stories about the place we love and the place we call home.”

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director of Piping Live!, said: “Glasgow has played a significant role in shaping the piping tradition since the industrial revolution. The city is the home for piping's centre of excellence - The National Piping Centre - as well as the stage for piping's most important annual events - Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships - creating the world's biggest week of piping each year.

“We are delighted to be part of this yearlong programme, celebrating Glasgow's 850 years. Through our events in 2025, we want Glasgow's citizens to feel connected to the city's piping history and have ownership of this piece of our culture as part of the city's heritage and future.”

Eddie Kim, owner of Gomo Kimchi and the popular Kimchi Deli and Poetry Library, located in Govanhill, said: “I came to Glasgow for love, with a fervent desire to forge my own narrative, but also to be in conversation with my Korean family's immigrant story and diaspora. I'm looking forward to being part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations and sharing my food, and my story, with others in the city.”

To support and complement the programme of activities next year, a Glasgow 850 volunteer and employability programme will be launched in October. More activities particularly, for young people and communities, will be announced in January, as the yearlong programme gets underway.

Visit glasgow850.com to be kept up to date with all the latest announcements.

Here at What's On Glasgow, we'll be supporting the Glasgow 850 events programme by showcasing all the community events via a dedicated Glasgow 850 section on the website. You can add your event for free via www.whatsonnetwork.co.uk, please make sure that you include reference to Glasgow 850 in the event title and description to help people searching for Glasgow 850 related events.

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Glasgow News

The Scottish Wedding Show rings in its return to Glasgow this October

Country's largest wedding showcase is back and giving Scots the chance to snap up free tickets.

October holiday fun for ALL the family at Loch Lomond Shores

Loch Lomond Shores has got the October school holidays sorted with loads to see and do – from pet friendly days out to breakfast with dinosaurs and loch tours and much more!

Garden Centre gives children a magical grotto experience

Dobbies Garden Centres is unveiling a magical line up of festive experiences for all the family to enjoy this Christmas, including the much-loved Grotto which is back with a brand-new look.

Spectacular new creative hub in Glasgow city centre unveiled by itison

itison unveils new city centre event venue itison HUB following £750k investment.

Sterling Home says thank you to customers with in store promotions to celebrate its 50th birthday

This weekend, Sterling Home is celebrating 50 years as Scotland’s leading family-owned home furnishing retailer with a series of exciting in-store promotions across all stores.

Smash hit Dolly Parton musical returns to Glasgow due to phenomenal demand

The King's Theatre, Glasgow are delighted to announce that Here You Come Again will return in January following a triumphant week of shows at the venue this month!

New fitness and pilates studio set to open in Glasgow City Centre

Move Train Eat welcomes you to its new Mat Pilates & Group Fitness studio in the heart of Glasgow City Centre, launching on Monday 21st October.

Mystery solved: why a giant 20 appeared in iconic Glasgow locations this week

The mystery behind a giant number '20' that was spotted travelling around Glasgow city centre this week has been solved.

Rising pop star Roisin McCarney joins Laura Boyd for series two of Beatson Talks

Beatson Cancer Charity is thrilled to announce the launch of Series Two of Beatson Talks, starting with none other than rising pop star Roisin McCarney!

Nordic Music Days arrives in Glasgow this month

This Autumn, Nordic Music Days, one of the world's oldest celebrations of contemporary classical music and sound, takes place in Scotland for the first time in its 136-year history.

An exclusive drinks menu and spine chilling deals await at Golf Fang Glasgow this October

Surreal crazy golf course, cocktail bar & graffiti house, Golf Fang, has announced an exclusive Halloween-themed cocktail menu and a range of scarily good boo-king experiences!

Glasgow eatery, The Loveable Rogue, expands with a third location in the Southside

The Loveable Rogue, Glasgow's coolest gastropub, will launch its third location in the city's Southside on Thursday 17th October.

Flight Club launches delicious BRAND NEW food and drinks menu

And they're celebrating with a free drink for all who come to try it between 14th – 18th October!

90s pop star Sonia to join the cast of Scottish premier in Glasgow

The King's Theatre, Glasgow are delighted to announce that 90's pop star Sonia will join the cast of the Scottish premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical in 2025.

Make 2nds Count to host unique fundraising event at Drygate

Glasgow to host Make 2nds Count's Massaoke for one-off fundraising date to mark the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Spooky season brings iconic classics and horror hits to Vue venues in Scotland this Halloween

Some of the latest horror blockbusters, as well as creepy classics and enchanting family favourites, will be heading to the big screen at Vue this Halloween season!

Biggest number of Sands Ribbon Displays ever for Baby Loss Awareness Week

Bereaved parents and families across Scotland remember together all those lives lost too soon.

Massive turn out for the biggest ever AJ Bell Great Scottish Run

After months of epic build up and training, this weekend saw Scotland's largest weekend of running as the biggest and best AJ Bell Great Scottish Run took place with over 30,000 runners.

Longlist for the Scottish Live Music Awards Revealed!

The recently launched Scottish Live Music Awards (SLMA) has unveiled its longlist for 2024!

With less than a week to go, Tenement Trail stage times revealed

Celebrating the 10th edition of TENEMENT TRAIL Festival on 12th October, TENEMENT TV and DF Concerts are delighted to announce the festival stage times!

National Library of Scotland shortlisted for national award

The National Library of Scotland has been shortlisted for the Scottish Library and Information Council's Project Excellence Award for its Fitba Research Club: Andrew Watson's Legacies' project.

Super Saturday scenes in George Square at the AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great Scottish Run 2024

The streets of Glasgow were awash with happy faces and super outfits yesterday morning as the AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great Scottish Run returned to Glasgow for the annual celebration of running.

Leading arts organisation to open exhibition space in new creative hub in historic building on River Clyde

The former Adelphi Terrace Public School at Florence Street has been transformed into new long-term home for leading visual arts organisation, The Common Guild.

The biggest weekend in Scottish running has arrived!

Over 30,000 runners will participate in the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run this weekend, making it the biggest staging of the event yet!

Comedian Craig Hill takes his latest hit show out on tour across Scotland

Comedian Craig Hill takes his latest hit show, I've Been Sitting On This For A While!, out on tour across Scotland later this month!

Amazing Silent Discos is bringing retro silent disco to The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow

After a string of sold-out events across the US, Amazing Silent Discos is bringing its unforgettable retro silent disco to the iconic Old Fruitmarket for one night only on Saturday 2 November!

Enjoy a SPOOKtacular half term with Stena Line

If you're looking for exciting ways to keep the kids entertained this half-term, look no further than Northern Ireland!

Free Carnival tickets available for charities and community groups

The IRN-BRU Carnival is offering 1000 free tickets to charity and community groups across Glasgow.

Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers comes to cinemas nationwide on 6th November

Exhibition on Screen brings the National Gallery's stunning Van Gogh exhibition to the big screen, along with a deep dive into his fascinating life and incredible skill.