I decided to join 80,000 others in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow on Sunday for the opening parade of the 16th West End Festival. I caught the train from Hamilton to Partick and walked back to Byres Road and stopped for my breakfast in The University Café. A black coffee and a not very healthy fried egg roll set me up for a morning browse in a variety of shops in the popular G12 Arrondissement!!!
Lunch saw me retreat to the Kibble Palace in the Botanic Gardens to enjoy a snack in the shelter of this famous conservatory with its great variety of flora. Whilst inside, the weather began to improve noticeably and I set out to walk to Kelvin Way - along with an increasing number of others out to enjoy the sun and the festival.
Inside the park itself, it was a playground of colour, music, entertainment, and food and drink. There were four stages each playing a variety of musical styles from Blues to Ska and Pop.The Mardi Gras was my main reason for being there and so I found a nice spot on Kelvin Way itself and patiently waited until 3 o'clock and the parade's start. The parade itself had 10 samba bands and over 800 costumed characters and musicians. It was to be the biggest Mardi Gras in the Festival's short history.
Below I have put together a selection of photies which give a flavour of the occasion. More can be seen if you follow the gallery link below.
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| Getting things Off Tae A Rousing Start |
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| Mammy Ye're An Embarrassment! |
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| It's An Upside Down World |
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| Gie's A Kiss! |
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A Magic Dragon
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Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!
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Some Big Drums!
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| Oooooh! That Must Be Sore! |
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| Ah Like The Skirt! |
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| Lady In Red |
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| A Good View Is Hard To Find |
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| Bye! Bye! |
Click
here to view the gallery and then click the slideshow icon.
