Celebrate the summer in Glasgow

The Glasgow Diary is the most comprehensive free guide to what’s on in Glasgow, profiling the exciting range of events taking place in the city from July to September. The new look diary highlights key events, festivals and attractions for the summer months, proving that whether a local, or a visitor, Glasgow really does have something for everyone.

Here we raise the curtain on a selection of annual highlights.

• Bard in the Botanics ( 25 June – 2 August)

Scotland's only annual outdoor Shakespeare festival, Bard in the Botanics offers audiences an al fresco theatre experience in the enchanting surroundings of the Botanic Gardens – one of Glasgow’s most loved dear green places. Relax amidst the trees as you enjoy productions of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in these tranquil surroundings. Bardinthebotanics.org.

• Glasgow River Festival (19 & 20 July)

The Glasgow River Festival returns with a revamped and action packed programme of events and activities for all ages, on land and on water. New to this year’s festival will be a thrilling display of Jet Sport Ski racing and Glasgow’s first ever beach volleyball tournament. The festival, which takes place in and around The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour, the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre, Glasgow Science Centre and BBC Scotland, attracted over 85,000 visitors in 2007 and this year’s event looks set to become another unmissable family weekend. Glasgowriverfestival.co.uk.

• Piping Live! (11 – 17 August)

A global celebration of the diversity of piping music will take place in Glasgow as the world's best and emerging pipers descend upon the city for the fifth year of Piping Live! the Glasgow International Piping Festival. For one week across various venues and outdoor spaces, Piping Live! will showcase the best that international piping has to offer with more than two dozen different nationalities and piping traditions being represented. Pipingfestival.co.uk.

• World Pipe Band Championships (16 August)

The World Pipe Band Championships have been associated with Glasgow since 1948 and are a celebration of the very best of Scottish music, culture and dance. The event will see more than 8,000 pipers and drummers from across the globe competing at Glasgow Green for the coveted title of World Champions 2008. Seeglasgow.com/piping.

• Merchant City Festival (25 – 28 September)

Attracting tens of thousands to Glasgow’s architecturally stunning and vibrant Merchant City quarter, the city’s multi-arts festival presents a cutting-edge programme featuring the cream of Scotland’s theatre, music, visual arts, comedy, dance, film, food and fashion scene. Merchantcityfestival.com.

To find out more about what to see and do in Glasgow or to download a copy of the Glasgow Diary, log onto Seeglasgow.com.