A CARNIVAL celebrating Glasgow's history, heritage and archaeology will be making its way through the city.

As part of the annual Merchant City Festival, street carnivals and musicians will be putting on performances for the public.

More than 300 performers will play a new piece in George Square created especially for the festival which kicks off on July 22.

The carnival will be leaving from the Cathedral Square and making its way to Merchant City, through the streets of the city.

Groups from across Glasgow, as well as international performers, will be joining the procession.

The Street Band Encontro will be staging performances throughout Saturday and Sunday and will play a special one-off performance on Saturday night at the Old Fruitmarket.

Running until Sunday July 30, the festival will feature music, dance, street arts, theatre, comedy, design, family entertainment, circus and films.

Depute Lord Provost and Chair of the Merchant City Festival steering group Bailie Philip Braat, said: “There are very few festivals and events that can surprise and delight so many people so often. From street theatre just around the next corner to huge set piece performances, the programme is full of opportunity to enjoy this festival routed in the heart of Glasgow’s Cultural quarter. W

"We start the Merchant City Festival with carnivals and street food and end with the return of SURGE and the continental markets so it should be another cracking year.”

More more information about the Merchant City Festival 2017 can be found at www.merchantcityfestival.com The Merchant City Festival, which will be part of the Cultural Programme for the 2018 European Championships is also supported by Creative Scotland, Unesco City of Music, Merchant Square, Heritage Lottery Fund, GCC Stalled Spaces and Fraser Suites.