A popular city festival returns this summer and Glaswegians are invited to take part.
After a successful 2024 programme comprising more than 130 events with a total audience in excess of 110,000, the third annual WestFest will take place this year from June 1 to 29.
And now the dates are confirmed, submissions are invited from groups, organisations and individuals looking to take part and feature their events and activities as part of the 2025 programme.
Organisers expect to host more than 150 events across 60+ venues in the West End this June.
Highlights
As in previous years, WestFest 2025 will feature a 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 a highlight was: “Being out in the fresh air and enjoying the events in areas I wouldn’t normally have been in.
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 - Brendon McIlroy
“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 said: “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 today (Friday January 17) 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.
