West End Festival Confirms Its 'identity' With Thousands Of Revellers, Sunday 8th June, 2014

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West End Festival Confirms Its ‘identity’ With Thousands Of Revellers, Sunday 8th June, 2014

Mardi Gras Parade at West End Festival

Today, Sunday, 8 June, the West End Festival has once again pulled off a
spectacular parade, with over 500 participants from across Glasgow. This is
the second weekend of the festival which kicked off on Sunday, 1 June with
local favourite, Gibson Street Gala.

This year’s parade theme, ‘Identity’, was interpreted by community groups
and organisations from around Glasgow, in their costume designs which they
made and wore for the vibrant parade procession. The scene took over Byres
Road and the surrounding streets and finished off on the steps of the
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. Tens of thousands of people attended
this free event and watched and cheered as it passed.

Flavour of the parade:
Dance group from Shettleston
Depot Arts Children – octopus carried on a float
Temple Shafton Youth Project had the largest piece in the parade –
a giant number ’10’ with skittle costumes
Turning point – Scottish themed, scaled version of the River Clyde

Street performers were also out on Byres Road, entertaining parade
revellers as they waited for the parade to start.

Liz Scobie, chairman of the Festival said: “Scotland’s Mardi Gras is
always a West End Festival highlight for so many people, as proved again in
this our 19th year. Our social media platforms have been buzzing with
excitement and anticipation for weeks. Everyone loves a party and today’s
parade has showcased so much creativity, colour and wonderful rhythms.

“It’s been a fabulous opportunity to kick-start what is going to be such a
special summer for Glasgow and Scotland!”

“A big thanks to Michael, Noel, the volunteers and all the organisations
we work with that contribute so much to ensure the success of Festival
Sunday.”

“I also want to say a big thank you to the businesses that have helped
fund parts of today – your support is crucial. A final thank you to our
principal funders Big Lottery Celebrate, Glasgow Life and Glasgow City
Council.”

Local businesses were thriving with the additional footfall and many local
craft makers attended to sell their works at stalls. Festival organisers
were delighted this year when a supporting relationship was confirmed with
Byres Road Traders Association. A call was put out earlier in the spring for
local traders to support this important day and ‘give something back’.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy at Glasgow
City Council, said: “The West End Festival’s parade is always a memorable
occasion and today’s was the best ever. The thousands of us who lined the
route this afternoon saw fantastic colour and we enjoyed the amazing
atmosphere of the parade.”

This weekend the Glasgow Mela also took place in the west end, in
Kelvingrove Park. The parade participants and followers dispersed in front
of the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery where many went on to enjoy the
festivities of the Mela.

Photographs at Mela by Dougie Baird: http://www.greattravelpictures.com/

With over 400 events in the festival programme there’s still plenty of
time to attend events across the west end, many of them are free. The
festival ends on Sunday, 29 June.

http://www.westendfestival.co.uk