Under the Rug at Govanhill International Festival & Carnival
The Govanhill International Festival & Carnival is back for its 10th anniversary, bringing people from all over to the neighbourhood for our annual, vibrant celebration of joy, culture, art, and community.
by Mikael Lee Donaldson | Photo by Rob Reid
Produced and programmed by Govanhill Baths, the Govanhill International Festival & Carnival has spent a decade building its reputation as a joyful and uplifting anti-racist festival. Founded on a spirit of neighbourhood, resistance, and recognition, it stands as a testament to the power of local activism and diversity in combating discrimination through collective unity and creative expression.
Today, Saturday 1 August, the festival kicks off in full swing with the beloved annual Parade and Carnival!
Joining the Parade & Carnival
The parade sets off from the Victoria Road entrance of Queen’s Park at 12:30pm, weaving its way through the streets towards Govanhill Park. There, the carnival will be in full swing, complete with an impressive afternoon packed with live music, performances, inspiring speeches, and brilliant local vendors.
From 2:00–5:00pm, the heart of the carnival comes alive in the Create/Disrupt zone, where an array of local organisations and community groups will be hosting interactive, hands-on workshops – including us!
Come Make a Puppet With Us!
We’ll be running puppet-making workshops throughout the afternoon. We’ll be using recycled craft paper, repurposed materials, and masking tape to show you how to bring a simple puppet to life!
Pop on down, say hi, craft your own puppet, and find out more about what we have planned for the future and how you can get involved!
What Else is Happening in the Create/Disrupt Zone?
You’ll find us surrounded by an incredible lineup of local makers, artists, and activists:
Greater Govanhill: Right next door to us where will be an outdoor pop-up photo booth.
Live Screen Printing with Print Clan: Drop by to try your hand at screen printing from scratch – cut your own stencils, and take home your own custom printed creation.
Animation Station with GBCT Digital Inclusion: You’ll be able to create a character and bring it to life using stop-motion animation right on a phone or tablet.
Mushroom Cultivation with Community Champignons: Meet the team behind Govanhill Baths’ community mushroom farm, chat all things fungi, and pick up a home grow-kit to cultivate your own oyster mushrooms.
Dance, Sports & Music: Try out Colombian salsa and bachata steps with El Encanto, get a beginner's introduction on the bagpipes with Piping Live, or drop by the Glasgow Sunflowers Baseball Club for youth throwing workshops.
Crafts, Activism & Community: Get an orchard-themed headband made from flowers and leaves with Creative Canopies, build a section of a massive collective community bridge with Build Recovery's LEGO® station, paint a lane divider float with Inverclyde Lido, or write a postcard to your MP with Glasgow South East Foodbank.
There’s so much more going on throughout the day, so put on your marching shoes, head down to Queen's Park or Govanhill Park, say hello, and let's celebrate ten years of community strength together!
