Paisley’s month-long Christmas celebrations will return to the town this year with a programme of festive family events designed to drive footfall to local traders throughout December.
Renfrewshire Council has organised Paisley’s Christmas in partnership with Scotland’s Theme Park.
The programme will run from Thursday 28th November to Saturday 28th December (excluding Christmas and Boxing Days).
The popular outdoor under-cover ice-rink returns in a new location at Paisley Cross, with funfair rides in County Square, run by Scotland’s Theme Park. Details of dates and times and tickets for both are on sale now at www.paisleyschristmas.co.uk. Discounts are available for anyone with a PA postcode and student/Young Scot cardholders.
To mark the beginning of the month-long festive activity, families can enjoy live on-stage entertainment from 2.30pm on Thursday 28 November in Paisley’s town centre with performances from local groups and musicians, including Paisley Rock Choir, Turning Point Renfrewshire’s Adult Theatre Group, Jennifer Scott Dance, Vison Dance Academy and local cover band Proposal. Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron and the winner of her Christmas Card Competition will officially switch on the Christmas lights in the town at 5.30pm.
Local business improvement district Paisley First have a bumper set of activities planned for Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends, while a busy fringe programme of Christmas events and activities make an attractive offer for Renfrewshire families. OneRen will also be showcasing a series of festive films for all ages at Paisley Town Hall as part of their Winter Festival – with further activities still to be announced. Details of what’s on in Paisley this Christmas are also available at www.paisleyschristmas.co.uk.
Pauline Allan, Renfrewshire Council’s events manager, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Scotland’s Theme Park again to bring some festive fun to Paisley this Christmas.”
“There’s a host of Christmas activity across the town and we want to add to Paisley’s Christmas offer, making a visit to the town centre an ideal choice when you’re planning family days, catching up with friends or out and about Christmas shopping.”
“We have some special offers available and we’ll also be running a community day when local groups can enjoy some free ice-skating.”
Winners of the Provost’s Christmas Card Competition – open to all local school children – are offered the opportunity to switch on the Christmas lights in either Paisley, Johnstone or Renfrew. This year, in partnership with local charity I Am Me, all cards entered will be sent out to elderly residents across Renfrewshire.
The Paisley’s Christmas programme sits alongside the wider programme of council-run events taking place across Renfrewshire.
Paisley Halloween Festival – celebrate 10 years of Halloween in Paisley with spooky entertainment and the return of Paisley’s Halloween Parade on Friday 25 and 26 October.
Renfrew’s Christmas lights switch-on event will be on the afternoon of Saturday 23 November and returns to Renfrew town centre this year.
Johnstone’s Christmas event will take place a week later, on Saturday 30 November, in the town’s Houstoun Square.
Other community-led Christmas events and lights switch-ons will be taking place in towns and villages around Renfrewshire. Check www.renfrewshire.gov.uk nearer the time for more information.