Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
16
SPECIAL EVENTS
Celtic Connections
The best-attended annual festival in Glasgow, and the
largest of its kind in the world, Celtic Connections music festival covers Gaelic, folk,
roots, alt-country, Americana, and more. It kicks off the year every January. The main
venue for performances is the Royal Concert Hall, which produces the event.
&
0141/353-8000.
www.celticconnections.com.
Doors Open Days
For a couple of weekends every September, this event
arranges for the doors at buildings normally closed to the public to be opened. Thus
it affords visitors rare opportunities to see the interiors of architecturally significant
and historic edifices across the city.
&
0141/248-1188.
www.doorsopendays.org.uk.
Glasgow International Jazz Festival
This annual event, usually running from
the last week of June through the first days of July, brings a few top jazz acts to
Glasgow. In recent years, the festival featured saxophonist David Murray and singer/
songwriter Van Morrison, as well as showcasing more locally based talent, such as
singers Carol Kidd and Tommy Smith. Free events are always included in the
“Fringe” schedule.
&
0141/552-3552.
www.jazzfest.co.uk.
Piping Live!
A lone piper playing a Scottish lament in a Highland glen can bring
a tear to the eye, for sure. But a band full of bagpipes blown in unison is one of the
most stirring sounds on the planet. The best pipers from around the world converge
on Glasgow in August of every year for the
World Pipe Band Championships
on
Glasgow Green, the culmination of a weeklong festival with concerts across the city.
30-34 McPhater St.
&
0141/353-8000.
www.pipingfestival.co.uk.
West End Festival
The city's West End celebrates every summer with a host of
music and cultural events for 2 weeks in June. The centerpiece is a Mardi Gras
Carnival and parade that draws thousands if it turns out to be a hot day.
&
0141/341-0844.
www.westendfestival.co.uk.
SPORTS & OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES
Football (Soccer)
Glasgow's Southside is the site of Scotland's national football stadium,
Hampden
Park
(
&
0141/620-4000;
Bus: 75 or 89). It seats more than 52,000 fans and is
used for Scotland internationals as well as annual cup matches. There is also a
football museum here.
The city's two big clubs are
Celtic
and
Rangers.
As any international soccer fan
knows, these are the two largest professional soccer teams in Scotland--indeed,
among the biggest in Europe. Collectively called the “Old Firm,” they have passion-
ate, even fanatical, followers, a portion of whom can be violent in their desire to
