The faces of Strathbungo's Window Wanderland

For one evening each year, the south Glasgow neighbourhood of Strathbungo becomes an open‑air gallery, with residents transforming their tenement windows into colourful displays.

The idea was inspired by a community‑led project in Bristol which has since taken root in towns and cities across the UK.

Every window tells its own story, from sea life to soup cans, displaying the creativity and personalities of the people who call Strathbungo home.

Resident Mara Roelofse, who has called the area home for 14 years, along with her husband and children, created a Andy Warhol‑inspired "Mara's Soup" display.

She said the idea grew from her previous years taking part in the event when she would welcome passers‑by and fellow residents with coffee, tea and, most importantly, homemade soup.

"As a Brazilian, I like to have people round and to be neighbours that share with neighbours," she says.

Just around the corner, couple Duncan and Kem "spent the last 8 hours of the day" organising their window display.

The couple moved to Strathbungo in 2022 and were initially unsure how the event worked, but they felt it was too good to pass up, so they stepped in to help organise it.

"We wanted to do what we could to keep things going and three years later we're still trying," says Duncan.

Duncan admits there's been a drop in the number of neighbours creating displays for all sorts of reasons, and the couple hope to support anyone who wants to take part, which is why their own window became a "last‑minute scramble" this year.

And that's before you factor in their 18‑month‑old twins and their endlessly energetic dog, Dizzy.

After a classic Google search for inspiration, the couple landed on a multi-coloured King Kong skyline for their window.

"Although it can be stressful to organise, I wouldn't have it any other way," says Kem.

Lenna across the street feels the same way. After 30 years of living in Strathbungo, she hasn't lost any of her enthusiasm for taking part.

Her downstairs neighbour's six‑year‑old daughter, Abigail, usually chooses the theme for their block of windows, and this year she picked the layers of the ocean.

"We have leaping dolphins, a scary shark and a big turtle," says Lenna.

"Abigail and her mummy did quite a lot of the little fish."

And it's not just a multigenerational effort behind the displays, the visitors span every age too.

"The streets are busy with people of all generations, and I think that's a lovely thing," Lenna says.

The windows carried a wide mix of themes this year, and organisers hope the event will continue to grow, encouraging even more neighbours to take part.