Paisley Halloween Festival will return next weekend with a packed programme to fright and delight visitors.
The free-to-attend festival, which routinely attracts tens of thousands of people to the town centre, will take place on Friday 24th October from 4pm–9pm and Saturday 25th October from 2pm–9pm.
Everyone’s favourite Halloween parade will be the centrepiece of the event each night, with more than 300 professional performers and local community groups taking part. This year’s parade is inspired by children’s book and movie characters, so be on the lookout for Mary Poppins, Harry Potter and many more familiar favourites.
The parade will make its way through the town at 7pm on both days and will once again take in Mill Street, offering plenty of great viewing spots to watch and enjoy the spectacle.
As well as the parade, there will be live entertainment from professional acts and performances from local dance and music groups on the main stage at County Square. Street performers will also be out across the town centre, alongside aerial taster sessions with All or Nothing at the Cenotaph.
The funfair will be set up at the Lagoon car park and East End Park, offering plenty of opportunities to keep wee ones occupied in the build-up to the parade.
The Art Department will host free creative arts and crafts sessions where visitors can make spooky Halloween decorations. There will also be marshmallow pits and a devilish selection of street food to try.
Some of the town’s most recognisable buildings will be dressed for the occasion with stunning light displays and giant inflatable monster installations.
The event is free to attend, with lots of great spots across the town centre to view the parade. However, there are still some ticketed grandstand seats available on Cotton Street, offering a fantastic view.
Local businesses and partners are also joining in the festivities, with Halloween-themed activities and extended opening hours—so please support them if you can.
Pauline Allan, events manager at Renfrewshire Council, said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to this year’s Paisley Halloween Festival. This year looks set to be another fantastic event with great live performances and entertainment, and a truly spectacular parade featuring some of your favourite characters.
“We’re particularly delighted at how much the town has got involved in this year’s event, from the community groups who have agreed to participate to the local businesses who have dressed their windows, agreed to open late or run their own fringe activities. I’d like to mention in particular our fantastic local volunteers who will help us deliver the event over the two days.
“This festival is one of the biggest in our events calendar and it’s great to see so much excitement and enthusiasm from the community and beyond to come along and be part of it.”
Tickets are priced at £15 per person or a group of four ticket for £54. You can purchase tickets from www.paisley.is/halloween.
Video: A previous Paisley Halloween Festival parade