On Saturday 18^th of July 2026, Govan Old will be holding an extravaganza of games and gaming to celebrate the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow.

Miniature Painting & War Games

Glasgow Hobby Clan will be bringing a range of hands-on activities celebrating miniature painting and tabletop gaming. Visitors will have the chance to take part in a miniature archaeological dig, uncovering 3D printed replicas inspired by the famous Govan Viking stones before painting and taking their discovery home.

We’ll also be showcasing a selection of stunning Warhammer miniatures and wargaming dioramas created by local artists, giving visitors the opportunity to see the artistry and creativity behind the hobby up close. 

There will also be a couple of tabletop games available for visitors to try throughout the day, giving people a chance to experience another side of the hobby in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Sword-fighting displays and workshops!  

We’ll also be joined by the Vanguard Centre who will be performing some display of sword-fighting techniques and offering some fencing lessons for young people to take part in.

Live Archaeology

We will have an archaeological excavation running on the day and visitors can handle some of the recent finds and speak to the archaeologists about their plans.  The friendly team of Govan Heritage Trust archaeologists will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have.

Young people can also handle replica artefacts from the Viking-Age and learn about the last 1500 years of Govan’s fascinating history.

Urban Nature

The area surrounding Govan Old is highly urbanised and the graveyard is an extremely important green space for both humans and animals and links with the river corridor.  It is an important resting place as well as a habitat for local wildlife.  Beneath the surface of what seems at first an unlikely nature reserve, the graveyard is in fact teeming with life throughout the day and night.

Junior explorers needed! The Conservation Volunteers will be teaching us all about the wildlife that inhabits the graveyard and help us to discover and record some of the many plant species that can be found within the churchyard. Suitable for all ages.

Special Archaeological Trench Tour

At 2pm, Professor Stephen Driscoll from the University of Glasgow, will give a special guided tour of the excavations and talk about his ongoing work at Govan Old.