Paisley will be hauntingly transformed to celebrate its third annual Halloween Festival offering plenty of fun and frights for all.

The two-day festival, which is taking place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October and is part of the push towards Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021, is a unique and popular event in the town’s calendar with lots of fun activities planned throughout the town offering something for families as well as those looking for a good night out.

The event gets into full swing on Friday night with the Halloween Ball taking place at Paisley Town Hall. Revellers can don their ghastliest costumes and enjoy a night of music, haunted performers and ghoulish ghosts.

Also on the Friday night budding sleuths can head along to Zambretto Italian Restaurant for its Murder Mystery night where they can solve crime while they enjoy a delicious three-course meal.

There’s also plenty of fun for the kids Paisley Museum’s Friday Fright Night. Kids can have a go at devilish arts and crafts, follow the spooky Museum Train to win a prize or enter the Fancy Dress competition.

Halloween will take over the town on Saturday 28 October as Paisley Town Hall transforms into Spook Central with a whole host of free fun activities for all the family including Halloween arts and crafts, mascot meet and greats, face painting, a Halloween market, zombie apocalypse workshops and much more!

Meanwhile, the Village Storytelling Centre will regale visitors with gruesome tales from Paisley’s past at Paisley Abbey where there will also be scary pumpkin carving workshops.

Those who love a good scare can head along to the Brown’s Lane Cinema Yurt on both Friday and Saturday to watch some spooky films for all to enjoy, including classics Ghostbusters, Halloween and The Lost Boys.

Saturday’s activities lead up to the spectacular Halloween Parade which is always a festival highlight! The parade will head off from New Street onto Causeyside Street at 6.30pm and will include a Fire Monster on a Paisley Chariot, the Spark! Drummers, LED lanterns, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners Band and lots more colourful participants.

Once the parade arrives at its final destination at Abbey Close, Walk the Plank’s spectacular Fire Garden installations, soundscapes, projections and illuminations will make for a real spectacle to enjoy. The Fire Stage will play host to the electrifying Flame Oz, 90’s fusion music, the club sounds party vibe of Mr.Wilson’s Second Liners and the spectacular Spark! LED drummers.

Plus there will be a funfair and live entertainment from local dance and theatre groups and a fantastic selection of local street food vendors and bars selling hot cider in Abbey Close.

Paisley 2021 bid director, Jean Cameron, said: “Our fantastic Halloween Festival is fast becoming a must attend event in the town’s calendar attracting people from across Renfrewshire and beyond to experience all the fun and frights of the fair. This year is set to be bigger and better than before showing that Paisley knows how to throw a party for all to enjoy.”

Tickets for the Halloween Ball cost £8 plus booking fee and include a free drink on arrival. Student tickets are available for £5 plus booking fee with valid student ID. Book your tickets now!

For information on the other activities and events taking place over the course of the weekend please visit: www.paisley2021.co.uk.

Author

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