AROUND 3000 children will launch Scotland's biggest cultural celebration today.
Ten schools will take park in the O2 Glasgow Mela schools showdance spectacular day at the Glasgow Mela, ahead of the main event this weekend.
The children will perform on one of the three stages which will take over the whole of Kelvingrove Park on Saturday and Sunday.
And organisers promise the weather won't put a dampener on events. The forecast is expected to be wet for most of the weekend.
Around 25,000 people are expected, and some of the biggest names in urban, Bhangra and Bollywood music will perform.
A spokeswoman for organisers, Glasgow Life, said: "The weather might let us down, but we can see from record attendances at last year's event that the people of Glasgow will not be put off by a bit of rain."
Meanwhile, festival-goers will be asked to make a pledge which could save a girl's life.
As reported in the Evening Times, Ayesha Siddiqui has leukaemia and is expected to need a bone marrow transplant.
Her family, including dad Nadeem, a cancer doctor, have taken two stalls and want to get at least 100 people to join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register which could help Ayesha or others with her condition find a match.
People will be checked to make sure they meet medical criteria, before being asked for a saliva sample.