The wet weather put no end to the party spirit this evening at the launch of the Merchant City Festival.
Hundreds gathered at Candleriggs for a Street Carnival extravaganza to kick off this year’s festivities before a sudden downpour forced event organisers to rethink their plans.
As they say in the business, the show must go on, and so it did as spectators made their way into nearby Merchant Square for performances from local dance groups who wore striking costumes designed for a ‘Hip Hop Meets Baroque' theme.
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The carnival marks the start of a weekend-long celebration of arts and culture taking place at a number of venues in the area including the Old Fruit Market and Glasgow’s City Halls.
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From Meatloaf tribute acts to family-friendly Encanto singalongs, all bases are covered in a jam-packed line-up of events.
This year will also see the return of the Merchant City Markets for the first time since 2019 with an array of independent stalls offering arts, crafts and sizzling street food.
Councillor Eva Bolander, chair of the Merchant City Festival committee, said: “As always, the Merchant City Festival programme is designed to provide rich cultural experiences for all who attend.
“This year, we have many acts to be excited about; we’ve got outdoor art and theatre, dance, cabaret, film, music and a strong focus on family involvement.
“I would strongly encourage all to come down and join the celebrations as Glasgow’s city centre comes alive this weekend.”
The Merchant City Festival is delivered by Glasgow Life with organisers glad to see the event back in full swing for 2022.
Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “We are delighted to see Merchant City Festival kicking off today; the reaction from spectators has been incredible so far and we’ve got a fantastic line-up of events still to come.
“The purpose of Glasgow Life is to enrich and enhance the lives of people.
“This festival is sure to do that, whether through music, art, sport or comedy.
“It marks a return to normality for Glasgow and will bring much-needed joy and excitement back to the streets after years of difficulty and uncertainty.”
The Merchant City Festival runs from today until Sunday.
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