and sweat their way round this 5km course all in aid of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

BAA Glasgow Airport Millennium

Youth Games Fri 16 Jun, 10.30am—5pm.

Scotstoun, Bellahouston & Gorbals

Leisure Centres and The Kelvin Hall, info on 287 3953. Young people from across Glasgow compete against local

details 01360 870224. Put your hiking boots on, take a walk up Ben Lomond and find out about the local wildlife. Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games Sun 11 Jun, 10.30am—5.30pm. Burnbrae, Milngavie, 942 5177. A day of traditional games such as tug 0’ war, heavy events and athletics as well as children‘s events and pipe bands.

authorities from the south and west of Scotland in a variety of events such as football, badminton, volleyball and

Botanic Gardens Open Weekend Sat 17 8: Sun 18 Jun, 10am—5pm. Free. Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western

swimming. Road, 334 2422. Take time out to look behind the scenes in the gardens and Other EVBI‘ItS experience the Filmy Fern house. The

Garden Walk: The Glasshouse in Summer Sat 10 Jun, 2.30pm. Greenbank Garden, Flenders Road, Clarkston, 639 3281. Enjoy a walk round this beautiful garden and then let yourself be guided round the glasshouse to see exactly how things should be done.

Ran er Guided Hill Walk: Upland

Wil life Sat 10Jun, 10am—4pm. Ben Lomond. Contact Ranger Service for

Book Market will also be open in the Hopkirk Building.

Spring Equinox Sun 18 Jun, 4.30—6am. £2 (£1). Cornalees Bridge Centre, Loch Thom, Greenock, 01475 521458. More commonly known as Midsummer’s Day, this is when the Lord of Light and his Queen are at their height giving warmth and light to the fields and orchards. Here’s hoping it’s not raining.

PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS

Art Gallery 8: Museum. Kelvingrove, Argyle Street, 287 2699. Mon—Thu & Sat 10am—5pm; Fri & Sun 11am—5pm. Free. This fine example of late Victorian architecture houses a permanent collection of work by such names as Rembrandt, Botticelli, Whistler and Cadell, plus numerous historical artefacts and animal displays. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Glasgow Art Listings page 91.

Burrell Collection

2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Mon—Thu & Sat 10am—5pm; Fri & Sun llam-5pm. Free. Sir William Burrell’s world famous collection of beautiful art objects from around the globe, housed in a specially designed, award-winning building. For details of temporary exhibitions, see Glasgow Art Listings page 91.

listings GLASGOW LIFE

Clydebuilt Scottish Maritime Museum

Braehead Shopping Centre, Kings lnch Road, 886 1013. Mon—Sat 10am—6pm; Sun 11am—5pm. £3.50 (£1.75); family £8. This attraction, situated on the River Clyde, brings to life the story of Glasgow’s development from the tobacco lords in the 1700’s right up to the 2lst century. You can take control of a real steam engine or learn to make a fortune as an ocean trader, and kids will enjoy the maritime playpark.

Fossil Grove

Victoria Park, 287 2000. Mon—Sun noon-5pm. Free. Glasgow’s oldest tourist attraction, designated as a site of special scientific interest by Scottish Natural Heritage, provides interpretative displays and the opportunity to examine geological specimens dating from 350 million years ago.

Continued over page

The West End Festival 2000

Glasgow's West End is a vibrant part of the city, the bars, restaurants and people creating a lively atmosphere. But for two weeks of the year, the area gets even busier. ’I gave myself permission to start the West End Festival, now I've been building it up for five years,’ explains Michael Dale, director of the event. A veteran of the festival scene, having been involved with the Edinburgh Fringe and Glasgow Garden Festival, Dale has managed to create an event which grows in size each year. 'The second year we did it was the year that Mayfest, the East End Festival and the Folk Festival collapsed three festivals all lost to Glasgow. We found ourselves in the rather odd position of being one of the few festivals happening.’ They’ve filled this void With a wide-reaching programme, mixing community events With high profile acts. The Cottier’s music programme boasts Gabrielle, Suzanne Bonnar, Michael Marta and Salsa Celtica. GilmorehillGlZ and the Grosvenor Cinema are putting on a West End film festival, and for the first time comedy has entered the fray with Jesters Comedy Club and The Stand serving up big names like Ross Noble and Fred MacAulay.

'This year our big thing is the street closure of Byres Road. It’s taken me five years to achieve this,’ explains Dale. 'People are looking for events they can bring friends and family to, that's why a lot of the stuff we do is free and open-air.’ The Opening Parade should be one to remember the music stages Will feature everything from steel bands to a virtuoso digeredoo player, the only ingredient which can't be guaranteed is the weather. One group of performers who’ll be hoping the rain stays away are Flexible Deadlock. Their production of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare's blood-thirsty revenge tragedy takes place in the Botanic Gardens, With the promise of live dismemberment those of a squeamish disposition take note. Dale’s viSion would be for people to spend the whole day in the area, taking advantage of the multiple spaces and performances. It's taking over the streets, the parks and the buildings you won’t be able to miss this years’ West End Festival. ( Louisa Pearson)

a West End Festival, various venues, 347 0844; www. g/asgowwes tend. co. uk/fes tiva//.

11—25 May 2000 THE usr 97