Best summer events in Glasgow and Edinburgh

• Rebecca Monks
• 2 June 2015

Sun or no sun, there's plenty of great summer fun to be had across Glasgow and Edinburgh

With the teeming mosh-pit that is festival season still at the far end of summer, there are plenty of reasons to get out and about in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the next several weeks. Here's our run-down of the best summer events in the big cities.

Magners Summer Nights
Contrary to popular belief, Scotland’s summer lasts longer than one weekend, and this live music event runs across three. In Glasgow, acts such as King Creosote, Glasvegas, Joan Armatrading and Echo & The Bunnymen take to Kelvingrove Bandstand, while James, the Flaming Lips and the Waterboys are playing at Edinburgh's Ross Bandstand. There’s also cider and street food, as if you needed further persuasion.
Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow, Thu 6–Sat 8 Aug & Thu 13–Sat 15 Aug; Ross Theatre Bandstand, Edinburgh, Wed 26–Fri 28 Aug, magnerssummernights.com

Glasgow Summer Sessions
Paolo Nutini, Grace Jones, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding? No, it’s not Now That’s What I Call A Music Festival, it’s the Glasgow Summer Sessions line-up. Taking place at Bellahouston Park, other confirmed acts include John Newman, Disciples and Burns.
Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, Sat 29–Sun 30 Aug, glasgowsummersessions.com

LeithLate
This arts festival should keep you busy all summer long, with events taking place across sunshiney Leith from June to September. Highlights include Kirsty Whiten’s exhibition Wronger Rites; a joint event with record store Elvis Shakespeare featuring in-store live performances, and an artist exchange between Edinburgh and Copenhagen at The Biscuit Factory.
Various Venues, Leith, Fri 12 Jun–Sun 27 Sep,

Community Festivals
In Glasgow, the West End Festival is back for its 20th year. Highlights include the spectacular annual Sunday parade (Sun 7 Jun) and the Glasgow Mela (Sun 14 Jun). Over in Edinburgh, the volunteer-run Meadows Festival hosts several live outdoor gigs; confirmed bands so far include Eliza Carthy, Sea Bass Kid, Urvanovic, and the Mermaids.
West End Festival, Glasgow, Fri 5–Sun 28 Jun, westendfestival.co.uk; Meadows Festival, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun 7 Jun, meadowsfestival.org

Edinburgh Food Festival
Celebrating the best in Scottish produce, this event features talks, live cooking demonstrations and entertainment as well as a series of stalls, food vendors and a dedicated market for producers. It’s better than your neighbour’s backyard barbecue, that’s for sure.
George Square Gardens, Edinburgh, Wed 29 Jul–Sun 2 Aug, edfoodfest.com

Outdoor Cinema
In June, Film in the City brings movies to the Edinburgh, with Film in the City outdoor screenings on the Grassmarket and in St Andrews Square, while Luna Cinema is showing classic films at the Botanic Gardens in September. Over in Glasgow, Moonlight Cinema will be screening a selection of outdoor movies, with more details to be confirmed. Al fresco Mamma Mia, anyone?
Film in the City, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun 7 Jun, & St Andrew Square Garden, Edinburgh, Fri 12–Sun 14 Jun. Luna Cinema Fri 4–Sun 6 Sep, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Moonlight Cinema, Glasgow, date TBC