Paisley gears up for Highland fling with pipe band competition

Paisley residents will this weekend be able to enjoy the sight, sound and spectacle of some of the top pipe bands from throughout Scotland and beyond.

The fifth annual Paisley Pipe Band Competition will take place in the heart of the town centre on Saturday 19 July, between noon and 6pm.

Bands will gather on the High Street and march down towards the final tuning area at the Cenotaph, before heading down to the judging area in County Square.

There, judges from the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association – West of Scotland branch, will judge the bands on their performances across the various grades.

The winners will be announced at 5.30pm in County Square, before a performance by the massed bands.

The programme for the day will see Johnstone and Kilbarchan pipe bands go head to head with pipers from as far afield as Milngavie, Camelon, Dunoon and Northumberland.

The Chieftain of the event will be Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall, who says she is looking forward to presiding over the occasion.

She said: “This event is now a fixture in the area’s town centre events calendar and has attracted some big crowds to Paisley over the previous four years.

“I am delighted to be taking on the role of Chieftain on the day, which will – as always – be a fantastic spectacle.

“Plus, our continued hosting of the pipe band competition in the town centre is a perfect fit with the council’s ambitious plans to use heritage and culture to bring people into the town and boost tourism.”

Any residents planning a trip into the town for the pipe band contest are reminded that parking is free in all council-metered bays and car parks every weekend.

The Pipe Band Competition arrives during a busy ten days for the area’s events programme, sandwiched in between the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to each of the area’s 15 towns and villages on Thursday 17 July, before County Square hosts StreetVelodrome – the world’s only pop-up track cycle race, on Saturday 26 July.

For more information about this event and others happening in the area over the summer, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/events

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X