WestFest is back for its third annual festival this June

After a successful 2024 festival, comprising over 130 events and reaching total audience numbers of over 110,000, the third annual WestFest will take place this year from 1st to 29th June.

Article Source: WestFest
Last Updated: 17 January 2025 9:51

WestFest is now open for submissions from groups, organisations and individuals looking to take part and feature their events and activities as part of the 2025 programme.

It's anticipated that, in 2025, over 150 events will take place across 60+ venues in Glasgow’s West End this June.

WestFest 2025 will feature the usual mix of street festivals, concerts, community events, recitals, and exhibitions. Attendees can also look forward to the return of some festival favourites such as Big Sunday @ Kelvingrove Bandstand, Bard in the Botanics, the Glasgow Vintage Bus Tour and the ever popular Kelvingrove Outdoor Ceilidh.

The highlight for many will be the colourful, free programme of outdoor events that the festival has become known for. These are set to be announced in mid April but it’s expected that there will be a mix of old and new events at venues such as Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Mansfield Park.

In response to last year’s WestFest survey, one attendee said, ‘Being out in the fresh air and enjoying the events in areas I wouldn’t normally have been in. I also loved that the events hosted people of all ages, ethnicity, backgrounds who all came together to have fun. The atmosphere at both events I attended was so friendly and welcoming.

WestFest’s Director is Brendon McIlroy who founded the festival in 2022 in response to ‘overwhelming demand’ for community and cultural events in the West End, in the absence of former festivals.

Brendon says: “It’s hard to believe WestFest is now in its third year and despite some alarming funding cuts across the arts and events sectors the festival has managed to keep growing and is going from strength to strength.

“Last year it’s estimated that total attendance across our events was in excess of 110,000. For 2025 we are focusing on growing that number and developing our community events programme - producing and encouraging events all across the West of Glasgow, not just Hillhead as most would expect.”

WestFest 2025 will see the return of the festival’s popular illustrated talks programme at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall, featuring over 20 free talks and workshops from some prominent West End voices.

The festival officially launches on Friday 17th January and groups, organisations and individuals who wish to run an event as part of the festival are encouraged to get in touch via the website www.westfest.uk

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