Christmas is coming to town with month-long festive celebration

Paisley town centre will be full of festive cheer this year with the return of Paisley’s Christmas – a month-long programme of festive family fun!

The event, which is organised by Renfrewshire Council in partnership with Scotland’s Theme Park, will run from Thursday 30 November to Saturday 30 December excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Visitors can look forward to the return of the outdoor under-cover ice-rink in County Square which is back by popular demand, plus funfair rides along Gilmour Street and Central Way open Tuesday to Sunday. There will also be free drop-in Christmas crafts and activities taking place at Santa’s Workshop in the Art Department from 9-10 and 16-17 December.

There will also be a number of free family activities as part of Paisley First’s Big Christmas Weekends including Paisley’s Angels and Elves Christmas Trail, Christmas Market (Saturday 2 December) and children’s street entertainers.

The Paisley First Giant Snow Globe will also be returning this year and will be available for free festive photos on the High Street on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December. Paisley First and The Bungalow on Shuttle Street have also partnered-up to show a selection of enchanting festive films to get everyone in the holiday mood.

The fantastic PACE Theatre Company Panto is also back this year with their production of Beauty and the Beast at the Art Department throughout December.

Renfrewshire Council’s head of marketing, communications and events, Louisa Mahon, said: “We are very excited to be launching Paisley’s Christmas with our partners to help brighten up the winter nights ahead.

“There is a fantastic programme of activity planned with something for everyone and every budget, with a number of free family activities to attend.

“Paisley town centre will be bustling at this time of year and will offer fantastic opportunities for festive shoppers to get some Christmas gifts – we encourage everyone to support local traders by Spending Local where you can.”

To mark the beginning of the month-long festive activity taking place in the town centre the Provost, along with the Christmas card competition winner will turn on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm on Thursday 30 November. This will coincide the public opening of the ice rink, funfair and other festive activities.

The Provost’s Christmas Card Competition is an annual design contest where local school children are invited to submit their designs for the chance to be featured as one of Provost Cameron’s official Christmas cards. The winners are also offered the opportunity to switch on the Christmas lights in either Paisley, Johnstone or Renfrew. This year, in partnership with I Am Me, all cards entered will be sent out to elderly residents across Renfrewshire this Christmas.

The festive celebrations will be widespread throughout Renfrewshire with Renfrew’s Christmas lights switch-on event taking place on Saturday 25 November in Robertson Park and Johnstone Christmas lights switch-on event happening the following weekend on Saturday 2 December in Houstoun Square.

In addition, a series of community-run Christmas events will be taking place in towns and villages around Renfrewshire to spread the festive cheer – check www.renfrewshire.gov.uk closer to the time for more information.

Please be aware that tickets for the ice rink on County Square are available now online at discounted prices or can be purchased on the day at the Box Office situated next to the ice rink. Visit www.paisley.is to book your ticket or to find out more about the event.

To find out more about how to enter the Provost’s Christmas Card competition please visit; www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/xmas-card-competition

To find out more about Paisley First’s festive programme please visit www.paisleyfirst.com.