After over two years of restrictions, cancellations, and delays, 2022 finally felt like the closest thing to normality as it brought with it the return of large-scale public events like concerts, demonstrations and festivals.
As the year draws to a close, we look back at some of the biggest and best events of Glasgow in 2022.
Scottish Wedding show
Glasgow was hit with wedding fever back in February when brides and grooms to be descended on the Scottish Wedding Show. The event aimed to instil some hope in couples whose dreams of marrying were thwarted by the pandemic.
Hosting over 200 wedding suppliers, guests sought inspiration for décor, flowers, cakes, music and even fed some alpacas before watching the coveted catwalk displaying the latest dresses, kilts and suits.
Event organiser Tsitsi Lynn Makuni said: “The past two years have been incredibly difficult for Scotland’s wedding industry and for couples all over the country who have been forced to delay and postpone their plans.
“Now that people are able to look to the future and put plans in place, we are delighted to return with a Scottish Wedding Show which will showcase the ideas and extraordinary talent which can help make your wedding day unforgettable."
The pride of Glasgow
Thousands of people took to the streets of Glasgow in June to celebrate Pride.
As part of Pride Month which honours the LGBTQ+ community, people adorned their brightest colours and marched around the city streets together.
The event showcased Glasgow in a most fabulous light, with tiaras, floral garlands, face paint and a sea of rainbow flags taking over the city.
The march and festival marked the first in three years after the covid pandemic forced the cancellation of previous events in 2020 and 2021.
Glasgow’s biggest music event
While it managed to go ahead last year, 2022 saw TRNSMT return to Glasgow Green bigger and better. In July, excited revellers donned their flower crowns and bucket hats as they made their way to the stage to see headline acts such as The Snuts, Example and The Strokes.
Even the sun made an appearance for the weekend.
Local hero Lewis Capaldi made his presence known hailed it the ‘best night of his f****** life’ when he performed on Sunday, while Paisley’s own Paolo Nutini made a monumental return after an eight-year hiatus to deliver old favourites and new material.
A less talkative man than Capaldi, Paolo did manage to tell the Friday night crowd: “Glasgow you’re looking good. You’re looking very good. In fact, you’re looking great.”
‘Everybody is entitled to love’
Hundreds marched through Glasgow one day in October to show their love and demand more support and respect for people who are or have been in care.
The Love Rally, organised by Who Cares? Scotland saw people of all ages and backgrounds dressed in bright colours and carrying placards with love hearts and messages of emotional support such as ‘people need to care’, ‘care is lifelong’ and ‘we deserve care’.
Who Cares? Chief executive Louise Hunter said: “We are marching for a lifetime of equality, love and respect for care-experienced people across Scotland. It is so often that they don't have the same access to everything that their non-care-experienced peers do.
"We are here to celebrate love, which is what everybody needs in Scotland and what everybody is entitled to."
Santa Dash
Just a few weeks ago Glasgow enjoyed the return of one of the biggest events of the year – the Santa Dash. Almost 4000 people donned their Santa suits on December 11 to run through Glasgow Green and raise money for the Beatson Cancer Charity.
After a festive warm-up consisting of dancing and stretching along to Christmas tunes, the four groups set off for the 5k trek and embraced the icy conditions in the East End.
Glasgow Times reporter and avid runner Stewart Paterson enjoyed his very first dash, saying: "There were Santas of all ages enjoying the run despite the freezing temperature, but then, Santa is used to it, coming from Lapland.”
One brave participant was six-year-old Cole Park, who is being treated by the Beatson for an aggressive brain tumour. Cole took part in the run in his wheelchair and managed to walk along the finish line in an incredible display of strength.
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