Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Winter is hotting up to be a rockin’ season of family fun in Paisley - with Northern Irish band Ash set to headline the town’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On.

The town’s winter events programme will kick off with the two-day Halloween Festival on Friday, October 27 and Saturday 28.

PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens

Then a special l 80s-themed Fireworks Spectacular will take place on the Saturday, November 4 with the dazzling Christmas lights display being flicked on a fortnight later.

Big festive lights nights, featuring live music and free entertainment, will also take place in Renfrew on Saturday, November 25 and in Johnstone on Saturday, December 2.

On top of this, the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards comes to Paisley for the first time ever and will be held at Paisley Town Hall on Saturday, December 2.

Programme highlights include:

• The spooktacular Halloween parade through Paisley town centre, with a stunning fire monster on a Paisley Chariot, a New Orleans-style street band and the Spark! Drummers

• A spectacular Fire Garden and Fire Stage at Bridge Street with soundscapes, projections and illuminations to make for a real extravaganza of sight and sound in Abbey Close

• A night of music, haunted performers and spooky goings-on with a Halloween Ball at Paisley Town Hall and Friday Fright Night at Paisley Museum, organised by Renfrewshire Leisure

• An 80s-themed silent disco in Paisley Town Hall during the afternoon and broadcasts from Clyde One DJs in the evening ahead of the Paisley Fireworks Spectacular at Abbey Close

• The famous Reindeer Parade, starting and finishing in Paisley High Street, before Santa opens his grotto outside the Paisley Centre and

• A live stage with performance by music headliners Ash before Paisley’s festive season is officially marked with the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On.

Read More News:

The winter season is part of a wider programme of events in Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021.

In summer, Paisley was named as the only Scottish location on the shortlist for the title alongside Coventry, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea.

The bid is part of a wider push to use Paisley’s unique heritage and cultural story to transform the future of the whole Renfrewshire area, with the final bid document due to be submitted to the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at the end of the month.

Paisley 2021 bid director Jean Cameron said: “The Halloween Festival, Fireworks Spectacular and Christmas Lights Switch On are established favourites in the town’s events calendar – and this year Paisley’s winter events programme is even bigger and better than ever.

“One of the key aims of Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 is to showcase the town’s proven track record in hosting a diverse range of major cultural activities and the winter events programme highlights just that.”

Read More News:

(Image: PDE)

Tim Wheeler, frontman of Ash, said the band is really looking forward to getting people rocking in Paisley.

He added: “Hopefully, our tunes will get the elves dancing and the Christmas spirit flowing.”

Remember, dates for your diary are: October 27 and 28, Halloween Festival; November 4, Fireworks Spectacular; November 18, Paisley Christmas Lights Switch-On; November 25, Renfrew lights; December 2, Johnstone lights and also on December 2, the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.