Two West End festivals taking place over the next two weekends have been given the green light by the city council’s licensing committee.
The Dandelion Festival, which is taking place in Kelvingrove Park for the first time this weekend, is funded by Event Scotland and the Scottish Government and will see a three-day spectacle of live music, performances, talks, and workshops that is open to everyone.
The Mela will run the following weekend on Sunday, June 26 from 12pm until 8pm in Kelvingrove Park and will showcase local artists and performers as well as national and international acts.
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Applications for a temporary entertainment licence for both events were presented to the licensing committee yesterday morning.
Michael McDougal, a representative of the Dandelion Festival, said: “Dandelion are a non profit organisation commissioned by Event Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government to undertake a six month creative celebration of the environment with a real focus on sustainability across Scotland.
“The festival commences this Friday and finishes on Sunday and takes part in the South East part of Kelvingrove Park. Across the three days the event will play host to a mix of educational activities, trade activities and entertainment along with a food and drink element.
“It is an extensive programme including live music which has been created by the artistic director of Celtic Connections. It sees a varied range of music from across Scotland and abroad who will play across three stages in the licensed area.
“That is being presented in partnership with Celtic Connections and Glasgow Live. There is a significant educational programme that sits alongside the music programme. There will be workshops, talks on climate action and food poverty and an excellent food and drink offer.
“It is very much focussed on being inclusive and family friendly. Public transport is being heavily promoted as a way to get to the event.”
Mr McDougal was thanked by chairman councillor Alex Wilson for his presentation and advised that he had addressed the concerns of the committee.
An application for Glasgow Mela, which has been operating virtually over the last two years, was then made by Glasgow Live.
Mark McArthur, project manager for Glasgow Mela, said: “Glasgow Mela is one of our core events in our calendar. This is the first time it is going to be held in person since 2019 because of the pandemic.
“In 2020 and 2021 we did a virtual Mela and last year we did a small event at Kelvingrove Band stand. We are hopefully back to some sort of normality.
“Off stage we have participatory events over by the fountain and we also have a funfair, traders and caterers offerings.
“We will also have a sports programme near the tennis courts.”
Following both presentations members of the committee agreed to grant both licences.
