Thousands heading to Glasgow castle for free summer event

The buzz around Glasgow’s “forgotten” landmark has been building since its Friends group announced the surprising results of a community archaeological survey.

A lost village of roundhouses, that could date back to the Bronze Age, was discovered after local volunteers and schoolchildren teamed up with specialist archaeologists from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to survey the site.

Friends of Crookston Castle have turned the Glasgow landmark into a source of community pride (Image: Mark Gibson/Newsquest)

Friends of Crookston Castle won the Editor’s Award at the Glasgow Community Champion Awards in December, and as we launch the 2026 event, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust and Glasgow Fort, chairperson David McDonald said the win was a “game changer and door opener” for the group.

David McDonald, chairperson of the Friends of Crookston Castle (Image: Mark Gibson/Newsquest)

"Winning the Editor’s Award has been a real boost for us,” he said.

“It was the first external sign that people valued the efforts our volunteers had been making. It has given our members a real sense of pride that their efforts had been recognised.”

To enter the 2026 Glasgow Community Champion Awards, visit our website or click here.

David said the group had been “taken by surprise” when they were announced as the winners.

“The awards celebration was full of so many inspiring stories, we felt lucky just to be there,” he said.

“Winning has had some really practical benefits for us too – the recognition has helped us secure funding to deliver more free events that bring the community together and create opportunities for people to connect with their local heritage.”

He added: “The award has also raised our profile beyond the local community. We've had heritage groups from across Scotland getting in touch to learn more about what we're doing, which has been really encouraging.”

The geophysical survey carried out at Crookston Castle has rewritten the history of the site, previously thought to date back to mediaeval times.

The research uncovered a hidden prehistoric settlement, ancient roundhouses built and rebuilt over generations, and evidence that people have been living, working and gathering on the Southside hill for thousands of years.

Now the team is organising two huge, free summer events – the Party & Picnic on July 25, as part of the Commonwealth Festival, featuring a host of acts including the Singing Kettle; and the annual Community Fun Day, on August 29, with lots of activities, entertainment and opportunities for people to explore Glasgow's castle.

“It's going to be a busy summer, but a very exciting one,” said David, smiling. “There is a real feel good factor around the castle, and a growing sense of pride in our community.

“There is a feeling that something special is happening here."