This year’s festival will be jam-packed with events for all ages, including special Dance Along screenings of beloved kids’ movies.
Merchant City Festival will include a wide variety of family-friendly events during the long weekend of entertainment in Glasgow, from Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 July 2022.
The highlight of the family activities are the Dance Along Movies, which will take place daily from 3-5 pm at City Halls and involve screenings of the beloved kids’ movies Trolls World Tour, Sing 2 and Encanto. The screenings will begin with a mini dance class for the little ones, dressing up is highly encouraged and every guest will receive a gift upon arrival!
The free Carnival Launch Party on Thursday 28 July will provide fun for all the family with four hours of live street performances and artistic spectacles. Costumed dancers and musicians, alongside large-scale themed artworks, will reflect aspects of the Merchant City, both past and present.
Friday 29 July is a jam-packed family day with activities that include free events at Merchant Square such as Family Disco from Be Bop Bairns, including singing, dancing and big party games with a soundtrack to cater for children of all ages, and Happiness Collectors, an audio-immersive and interactive live performance ideal for ages 5-10 involving a journey of sounds and silliness to learn the best ways to collect happiness.
Other free events include Brain Matter, a performance exploring our five senses and attempting to organise the mind; Foul Fish, a curious and playful dance work exploring the future of our oceans through a new hybrid creature, part human, part fish, part rubbish dump, and Are Ye Dancin’, a theatrical bubble of silliness and fun for all the family.
Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July will also include an afternoon dance programme with Boogie Unicorn Disco. Glasgow’s own Boogie Unicorn, Kate E. Deeming will lead the grooves in the fun, interactive, feel-good dance session for all ages.
Lorenzo Mele, Senior Arts Producer at Glasgow Life, said: “
We have such a brilliant line-up of events for people of all ages this year and we will be delighted to welcome families from across Glasgow and beyond to the fun-filled weekend. The little ones will especially enjoy the special Dance Along Movies that will be screened each afternoon, rounding off the exciting activities with family-favourite films and some dancing.
The Merchant City Festival takes place from Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 July 2022 and will showcase outdoor arts, circus, dance and more – with events happening in and around the streets and venues of the Merchant City area of Glasgow. It is delivered by Glasgow Life, the charity that inspires people to lead richer and more active lives through culture and sport.
Aside from the show-stopping programme of entertainment taking place across the four days, the ever-popular Merchant City Festival markets are back for the first time since 2019, offering a craft and makers market and some food stalls. The iconic Merchant City Craft Fair, the oldest in the city, will make its way outdoors, especially for this year’s festival.