Glasgow Loves Christmas

Glasgow's Christmas Lights

This event is known all around Glasgow. It happens mid December and is a huge event where the George Square lights are lit - usually by a celebrity. The event has grown each year - so much so that they have started having to provide tickets for health and safety reasons. When I was younger it was a matter of going along but now tickets are needed. Sadly the tickets are sold out quicky so 'if your not fast your last' will apply in this case. This is just one of the events which happen around this area in December. Here is the website where you can view a slideshow and read up on more information on how to be at this spectacular event.


The full area is the turned in to a Winterfest - which an ice-skating rink and stalls. There has been in recent year a huge stage set up where acts can apply to perform. I thought I would write about this because I have sang as part of my school choir at the Winterfest the last two years. Apart from the nerves and the cold I loved every experience of it. Everyone is merry and there is a real buzzing atmosphere. The staff are all very friendly and helpful and the venue itself is a winter wonderland spectacular. The dressing rooms even have heating in them! I am going to leave you with a video of the lights and firework displays from one of the evenings. Thank You for viewing my blogs and i do hope you have enjoyed my opinions on cultural events around about Glasgow.



Glasgow Doors Open Day

This wonderful FREE event is Glasgow's way of celebrating  its buildings, its streets, its parks and its people - basically this is Glasgow's way of celebrating Glasgow! There are walks, talks, exhibitions in hundreds of venues which open their door to the Glasgow public. I personally think this is a great way of bringing in tourists to Glasgow as well as allowing Glasgow to see places that they possibly may not normally visit.

As there are so many I think I would bore you by listing them all so I will link you all to the page of all the venues which opened their doors in 2010 - Doors Open 2010. My personal favourites from last year were the BBC Scotland - I found this very interesting as I was able to see what happened on a daily basis with the help of a tour. Also I visited the Mosque which is situated in the Gorbals. I enjoyed this as it was a chance to explore a different culture.

Glasgow Central Mosque



This event sums up culture of Glasgow. It allows access to places you would never normally think of visiting. A free shuttle bus operates during the event which runs several routes, taking people in between the venues. The fact that this even is free means anybody is able to go to this. Although the younger generation may not be so interested - I was dragged along one year and will continue to go every year to explore the new additions every year.

The venues have yet to be confirmed for next year so I will leave you with their Facebook Page! My last blog on cultural events - saving best till last will be the Winterfest in George Square - See you all next time..

Jazzing It Up

For all you music lover out there here is another addition to Glasgows busy calendar in June. The annual International Jazz Festival brings our very own city alive with the swing of jazz. This festival attracts jazz music appreciators globally.

             Jazz      -      Blues      -      Reggae      -      Funk      -      Soul      -      World 

Above is a list of all the genres of Jazz which will be shown throughout the festival. The festival normally takes over about 2 weeks of June, which is held in various venues accross Glasgow. But not only does this festival offer music - there are workshops, signings and photography exhibitions (all jazz related of course). Here is a clip from the 2010 festival of Michael Janisch Quartet, With Special Guests Wynton Marsalis & Ryan Quigley. This is just one aspect of the festival

The 2010 festival, lasted ten days and 650 artists, attracting over 29,000 people. Last years performances included: theRyanQuigley BigBand, GlasgowImprovisersOrchestra, GeorgeBurt with SusanAlcorn, Burt Macdonaldwith Keith Tippett andRumbaCaliente.  Although the directors have kept us waiting in anticipation - the festival hope to WOW their audiences even more this year. You can keep up to date with Facebook and Twitter. Nothing is yet official but these pages are constantly giving you the low down.As soon as the line up is announced I know I will be certainly purchasing a ticket or two to some of the events which last. With some being cheaper than others, why not buy one to see what it is like!? After the summer coming in to September the events around about Glasgow start to calm down but I will next be presenting you with my opinions of The Glasgow Doors Open Day...