Paisley will switch on its Christmas lights on Saturday 14th November, opening a run of town centre celebrations across Renfrewshire. Linwood, Renfrew, Erskine and Johnstone will follow later in the month, with village switch-ons listed into December.
Skipinnish will headline the main stage on Gauze Street in Paisley. The stage programme starts at 1pm and the lights go on at 6pm. The Big Feed Christmas Market runs from noon to 8pm in Abbey Close. Johnstone Business Consortium will also hold its Christmas market on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm in Houstoun Square.
In Linwood, the lights go on outside Tweedie Hall at 8.15pm on Thursday 19th November. Families can drop in for lantern making and a children’s disco from 5.30pm. The concert and pantomime start at 6pm and must be booked in advance.
Renfrew’s town centre celebrations start at noon on Saturday 21st November. Renfrew Burgh Band will give a carol concert at the town hall at 3.30pm before the switch-on at 5pm. Discover Renfrewshire lists Elderslie’s event for 6.30pm that evening.
Erskine’s event starts at 6pm on Friday 27th November in Civic Square, with school choirs and live music before the lights go on at 7.30pm. Howwood’s event is listed for 7pm the same evening.
Johnstone’s lights will go on at 5pm on Saturday 28th November in Houstoun Square, where Johnstone Sound will host live entertainment from 1pm. St Vincent’s Hospice will run a Christmas market in the square. Inchinnan’s event is listed for 7pm that evening.
Bishopton’s Christmas tree lights go on at 7pm on Sunday 29th November at the community centre. Houston’s event is listed for 6pm. Langbank Parish Church has advertised its tree light-up and singalong for 6pm at the church. Discover Renfrewshire lists the Langbank event at 7pm, and the exact time the lights will go on has yet to be confirmed.
Discover Renfrewshire lists Kilbarchan’s event for 7.30pm on Monday 30th November, Bridge of Weir’s for 7pm on Tuesday 1st December and Lochwinnoch’s for 6.30pm on Saturday 5th December.
Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “There’s something truly special about seeing our towns light up for Christmas and watching families, friends and neighbours come together to celebrate the festive season. These events are all about creating joyful memories, enjoying time with loved ones and celebrating the strong sense of community that makes Renfrewshire such a wonderful place to live.
“I’m looking forward to joining residents to celebrate across the region, and I’m especially delighted that our talented Christmas Card competition winners will be helping switch on the lights in their towns. I hope everyone enjoys the fantastic programme of festive activities on offer and has a magical start to Christmas.”
The December programme also includes a night market at Paisley Town Hall on Thursday 3rd December and a market on Paisley High Street on Saturday 5th December. Linwood Community Council will hold its Christmas event at Linwood High School on Saturday 12th December. The Bowfield Christmas Market in Howwood takes place on Sunday 13th December.
The dates, venues and times are in the table below. For village events marked ‘listed’, the time is the one advertised for the event.
| Date | Town or village | Event | Venue | Event times | Lights on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th November to 20th December | Paisley | A German Christmas at Browns Lane | 6 Browns Lane | Fridays and Saturdays noon–7pm, Sundays noon–4pm | — |
| 14th November | Johnstone | Johnstone Business Consortium Christmas Market | Houstoun Square | 10am–3pm | — |
| 14th November | Paisley | St John Ogilvie Primary Christmas fayre | St John Ogilvie Primary School, Lacy Street | 10am–noon | — |
| 14th November | Paisley | Salvation Army Christmas fayre | Paisley Salvation Army Community Church, Mill Street | 10am–3pm | — |
| 14th November | Paisley | Big Feed Christmas Market | Abbey Close | Noon–8pm | — |
| 14th November | Paisley | Christmas lights switch-on | Gauze Street main stage and town centre | Main stage 1pm–6pm | 6pm |
| 15th November | Kilbarchan | Earlybird Christmas Craft Fayre | Kilbarchan Guide Centre, Barn Green | 1pm–4pm | — |
| 19th November | Linwood | Christmas lights switch-on | Tweedie Hall, Bridge Street | 5.30pm–8.30pm | 8.15pm |
| 19th November | Paisley | Gleniffer High School PTA Christmas fayre | Gleniffer High School, Amochrie Road | 6.30pm–8.30pm | — |
| 20th November | Langbank | Village Christmas shopping night | Langbank Parish Church, Main Road | From 7.30pm | — |
| 21st November | Paisley | Ralston Primary Christmas fayre | Ralston Primary School, School Road | 10am–1pm | — |
| 21st November | Paisley | ACCORD Hospice Christmas fayre | Lagoon Leisure Centre, Christie Street | 10am–3pm | — |
| 21st November | Renfrew | Christmas lights switch-on and market | High Street and town centre | Noon–5pm | 5pm |
| 21st November | Elderslie | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 6.30pm listed | — |
| 27th November | Erskine | Christmas lights switch-on and market | Civic Square, Kilpatrick Drive | 6pm–8pm | 7.30pm |
| 27th November | Howwood | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 7pm listed | — |
| 28th November | Linwood | St Vincent’s Hospice Christmas fayre | Tweedie Hall, Bridge Street | 10am–2pm | — |
| 28th November | Johnstone | Christmas lights switch-on and St Vincent’s Hospice market | Houstoun Square | 1pm–5pm | 5pm |
| 28th November | Inchinnan | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 7pm listed | — |
| 29th November | Paisley | ACCORD Hospice Light Up a Life | Mary Russell School to ACCORD Hospice | Procession 4.45pm, carols 5pm | 5pm |
| 29th November | Houston | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 6pm listed | — |
| 29th November | Langbank | Christmas tree light-up and singalong | Langbank Parish Church, Main Road | Church lists 6pm for the singalong | — |
| 29th November | Bishopton | Christmas tree lights switch-on | Bishopton Community Centre, Gledstane Road | Doors 6.15pm, carols 6.30pm | 7pm |
| 30th November | Kilbarchan | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 7.30pm listed | — |
| 1st December | Bridge of Weir | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 7pm listed | — |
| 3rd December | Paisley | Wild Ivy Winter Night Market | Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close | 5pm–10pm | — |
| 5th December | Paisley | Small Business Saturday Christmas Market | High Street | 10am–4pm | — |
| 5th December | Lochwinnoch | Christmas lights switch-on | — | 6.30pm listed | — |
| 12th December | Linwood | Linwood Community Council Christmas event | Linwood High School | 1pm–5pm | — |
| 13th December | Howwood | Bowfield Christmas Market | Bowfield Hotel & Spa, Bowfield Road | Noon–4pm | — |