We want everyone to enjoy Paisley Halloween Festival 2026. This guide outlines the accessibility measures and support available to help visitors plan their visit and experience the festival with confidence.
Site description
Paisley Halloween Festival takes place across several streets and open areas in Paisley town centre.
Most surfaces are hard and paved, with typical road surfaces and pavements.
Parade route
The parade, which will start at 7pm on both nights of the festival, and will take approximately 60 minutes to complete its route from start to finish.
The parade will take in Smithhills Street, Gauze Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Cotton Street, Gauze Street and Gilmour Street.
There is plenty of capacity in Mill Street and great spaces to view the parade.
There will be a ground level accessible viewing area for the parade located on Cotton Street.
Street performances
Static street performances will take place in County Square, and on Gauze Street at the top of Dunn Square.
Roaming street performances will take place along Gauze Street, between High Street and Smithhills Street.
County Square
County Square is an open, paved square with cobbles and a few low steps.
There will be a large, ‘horseshoe’ style performance area in County Square, defined with picket fencing. Spectators can view the static performances in this area on three sides. Please note the performances will not be on a raised platform. The area will be enhanced with lighting, décor and amplified sound.
There will be a ground level accessible viewing area, with seats available.
Gauze Street at the top of Dunn Square
Gauze Street slopes downwards on a gradient heading away from the Cenotaph.
Static performances will take place at ground level, at the top of the steps at Dunn Square, facing towards Gauze Street.
The area will be enhanced with lighting, décor and amplified sound.
There will be a ground level accessible viewing area, with seats available.
Funfair
There will be fairground rides located in the Lagoon car park and East End Park.
The Lagoon car park is a flat, tarmacked area.
The Funfair rides at East End Park are accessible via
a flat concrete path. To access some rides you may need to pass over grass areas.
Food and drink
Food and drink vendors will be located at the Cenotaph, Gilmour Place, Cotton Street and at the Funfair.
Gilmour Place is paved with a steady incline towards the Cenotaph.
The Cenotaph area is an open, paved street with a few steps.
There will be Marshmallow Pits in Dunn Square. The paths in Dunn Square are laid with bricks which can be a little slippery after rain. Level access to Dunn Square is from St Mirren Brae, as access from Gauze Street requires a flight of steps.
Cotton Street is flat, paved and there is also an accessible viewing area in this location.
Lights and visibility
While there is ambient lighting, along with general street lighting, Paisley Halloween Festival takes place after dark.
Note that the street performances start at 4pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday, when there will be more natural light – this is when ground visibility will be best.
There will be lighting installations and giant inflatables throughout the event site.
Some of the performances may include lasers, flashing lights or fire.
Sound and noise
As with any large-scale event, the festival site can get quite loud. There will be a mixture of music, ambient noise, singing and talking. As the site is in the town centre, noise can also echo off nearby buildings.
Quiet spaces
A quiet space marquee will be available at the corner of Bridge Street and Abbey Close.
A quiet space will also be available in Paisley Central Library on the High Street.
Accessible viewing areas
We have an accessible viewing area located at Cotton Street, next to the grandstand seating. The viewing area will be a large covered flat space, providing a clear view at ground level.
We have a ground level, accessible viewing area at County Square, next to the performance area. County Square is an open, paved square with cobbles and a few low steps. Please note this area will not be covered.
There will be a ground level, accessible viewing area at Gauze St at the top of Dunn square, next to the performance area. Please note this area will not be covered.
These areas will be manned by stewards and volunteers. Places will be accommodated on a first come first served basis. Please note that spaces in these areas are limited.
Folding chairs are available in all accessible viewing areas.
There are some areas where we expect the event to be less busy. The parade route will take in Mill Street, where there is plenty of capacity and great spaces to view the parade.
Accessible parking
Blue Badge parking will be available in Renfrewshire House car park, Horizon Car Park (Paisley Shopping Centre) and the Piazza Shopping Centre car parks.
Access to Renfrewshire House car park (Council HQ) will be from the traffic light junction on Mill Street. Blue Badge spaces are available on the top deck of the car park.
Due to the parade route taking in Mill Street, Blue Badge holders must be parked before 6.00pm and won’t be able to exit until the parade has finished at 8pm. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Horizon Car Park (Paisley Shopping Centre) and Piazza car parks are also close to the event site. Shopmobility Renfrewshire are based in the Paisley Centre car park and can offer additional support.
Mobility support services
Shopmobility Renfrewshire supports people with mobility disabilities, to help them to move around and participate fully in social, economic and cultural activities in the local area.
This includes the hire of wheelchairs, powerchairs and electric scooters, for both day hire and longer periods at a low cost.
To enquire about equipment hire or their support services, contact the Shopmobility team on 0141 889 0441 or email admin@shopmobilityrenfrewshire.org.uk or find out more on Facebook.
Shopmobility are located on the ground floor of the Horizon Car Park (Paisley Shopping Centre) on Storie Street, PA1 2AP. This is a paid car park and will stay open until 10.00pm on both nights of the festival.
Toilets and accessible toilets
There are eight toilet locations around the site this year, and each location includes an accessible toilet.
- Bridge Street, next to the accessible viewing area
- Path at Renfrewshire House, near to the Grandstand seating area
- Bridge Street car park
- County Square, next to the stage
- Dunn Square
- Gauze Street, at the junction with Lawn Street
- Lagoon car park, next to funfair
- East End Park, next to funfair
Changing Place Facility
There will be a mobile Changing Place located on Cotton Street next to the accessible viewing area.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome to attend, but please remember the event will be busy. If your dog isn’t used to loud noises and crowds, they may be best left at home.
Attending with a young family
Daytime entertainment
The street performance programme will start at 4pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday and will feature many of the acts participating in the parade.
If you’re attending with very young children and if 7pm is too close to bedtime, you can still come along earlier and enjoy acts like Spark! LED Drummers, Uncle Doom and His Organ of Gloom, Granny Turismo, Brad & Vlad Vampire Act, and see the Giant Inflatables on Paisley buildings.
Kids arts and crafts workshops, suitable for all ages, will be available in the Art department from 4.00pm – 7.00pm and in Paisley Central Library from 4.30pm-6.30pm on each day of the festival.
Children's Halloween Bookbug and story time and craft sessions at Paisley Central Library
Friday and Saturday
4.30pm – 5.00pm Spooky Bookbug (bookable) 10 children plus adults
5.20pm – 5.45pm Spooky stories (aimed at ages 3 – 7 years)
5.45pm – 6.30pm Halloween craft session (suitable for ages 4 – 10 years)
The funfair and food and drink vendors will be open too.
Due to the natural light, some of the light shows may not be as bright at this time, but the site will be quieter.
British Sign Language (BSL)
A BSL interpretation of the event information and accessibility guide is available below.
Free BSL Spooky Storytelling — Halloween Special at Paisley Central Library
- Friday Only from 4.30pm
- Four 20-minute sessions running back-to-back — drop in any time.
West Scotland BSL brings you a spooky, magical BSL story for Deaf and hearing babies, toddlers, children and their families — where stories come alive through signing, and even the very youngest little monsters can join in.
Graham leads the BSL signing and storytelling, with David providing spoken translation and communication support throughout — so everyone in the room, Deaf or hearing, from the tiniest tot to the tallest grown-up, can be part of the fun. No BSL experience needed by anyone.
Easy Read Version
An easy read interpretation of the event information and accessibility guide is available here.
Bringing a pram
There is no general on-site pram parking for this event.
A pram park is available at the grandstand for Grandstand Seating ticket holders only.
Baby Changing
There will be baby changing facilities within each of the accessible toilets located at:
- Bridge Street, next to the accessible viewing area
- Path at Renfrewshire House, near to the Grandstand seating area
- Bridge Street car park
- County Square, next to the stage
- Dunn Square
- Gauze Street, at the junction with Lawn Street
- Lagoon car park, next to funfair
- East End Park, next to funfair
Grandstand Seating Tickets
This is a paid for, ticketed opportunity to view the parade from the grandstand seating bank. The grandstand seating is not accessible for wheelchair users. However, the ground level, covered, accessible viewing area is immediately next to the grandstand.
Tickets are available to book at £15 per ticket, inclusive of booking fee, or £54 for a group of 4, inclusive of booking fee. The ticket price includes a hot or soft drink and baked good, plus access to pre-parade entertainment.
Getting to Paisley Halloween Festival
Plan your visit to Paisley Halloween Festival 2026 with confidence. Our travel guide provides information on transport options, parking and accessible travel.