Overview
Paisley's annual celebration of a historic victory for the weavers.
Sma' Shot Day 2026 is sponsored by Unison Renfrewshire.
Sma' Shot Parade
12pm-1pm
Starts Brodie Park. Ends Abbey Close.
Co-ordinated by Bridgeman Arts in collaboration with local community groups, performers and musicians, the parade brings to life the traditional weavers' celebration and tells some exciting, undiscovered stories of their past.
Look out for a special anniversary banner celebrating 40 years since the event's revival.
Burning of the Cork
2pm-2.15pm
A Sma' Shot Day tradition - the annual 'burning of the cork'. The 'cork' represents the middleman in the famous dispute between the weavers and the mill owners for payment of the sma' shot thread, in which the weavers were victorious.
Preceded by a performance from Shaun Moore, Tannahill Makar, and followed by celebratory dance performance by young people from right2dance.
Children and families
- Face-painting, inflatables and sports-themed arts and crafts
- Small funfair rides on Bridge Street
- The Raving Bathing Belles walkabout acts
- Community stalls
- Watch Graeme Lightbody, 'Keepy Uppy Football' champion (2pm-4pm)
- Meet Finnie, Glasgow 2026 mascot (1pm-4pm)
Drop-in activities
Sewing2gether All Nations 'Faces of Belonging' invites visitors to create a small self-portrait. The 'One Millie, All Nations' exhibition of over 30 completed handmade dolls created by refugee women during a series of sewing workshops using the linen tea-towel pattern designed by illustrator Sue Shields.
The Kairos Women+ workshop is a relaxed badge-making activity centred on social justice themes.
At ReMode’s Sewing Station, you can bring your t-shirts or garments to customize using various hand-embroidery and mending techniques, such as Sashiko stitching. Alternatively, you can create your own embroidered patches. No prior skills are required—just pop in to learn some hand sewing.
Abbey Gardens Stage
Compered by Shaun Moore, Tannahill Makar.
- The Fogartys (12pm-1pm)
- Parade arrives (1pm-1.15pm)
- Trade union speeches (1.15pm-1.30pm)
- Sharon Martin (1.30pm-2pm)
- Burning of the Cork and right2dance (2pm-2.15pm)
- Fèis Phàislig and Ubuntu Drumming Group (2.15pm-2.45pm)
- PACE Youth Theatre Sma' Shot Day (2.45pm-3pm)
- King of Birds (3pm-4pm)
Kids Workshops at Restoration & Creation
Suitable for ages 5-12. Click on the link to book your place:
Sma' Shot Day 40th Anniversary Street Party
Restoration & Creation at Brown's Lane
4pm until late
- Ceilidh with Gary Baker (4pm)
- Gary Patterson Skiffle Band's nod to Paisley - Danny Kyle and Other Songs (5.15pm)
- The Fogartys trad session (6.30pm)
- 80s DJ (7.45pm)
Sma' Shot Tea Dance
Methodist Central Halls
1pm-4pm
Free but ticketed - 35 pairs of tickets will be available from Paisley Central Library from 28 May.
Sma' Shot Cottages tours
Sma' Shot Cottages, Shuttle Street
10am-4pm
Sma' Shot Poetry Slam
Join us for a riot of rhyme, rhythm and revolution as the Sma' Shot Poetry Slam returns.
Part of Sma’ Shot Day – one of Scotland’s most radical heritage celebrations – this high-energy poetry slam brings together voices from across the country for a night of spoken word that’s bold, brave and brilliantly unforgettable.
Want to be one of the slammers? Email Shaun Moore at shaun.moore-oneren@renfrewshire.gov.uk to put your name down.
Location
Address
Getting here
Train
Paisley Gilmour Street train station is less than 10 minutes’ walk from the site and runs regular services to and from Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Inverclyde.
Bus
McGill’s has various services in and around Paisley, with over 70 buses each hour serving Paisley town centre. Plan your journey on McGill’s free app, to find the best service and view your bus arriving to the stop in real time.
Car
Paisley town centre is just a 12-minute drive from Glasgow city centre via the M8 motorway which travels through Renfrewshire on its Greenock / Glasgow / Edinburgh route.
The closest public car parks to the festival site are Orchard Street, Lonend, School Wynd, and the Lagoon Leisure Centre. Please be considerate to our neighbours and don’t park in residential parking spaces.
Road and car park closures
To be announced closer to event date.
Programme
Sma' Shot Parade will leave Brodie Park, Paisley, at 12pm and make its way along Neilston Road - Causeyside Street - St Mirren Street - Gauze Street - Cotton Street before finishing in Bridge Street.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to get skills and experience in working at major events. It's also a great way of getting out and about, meeting new and like-minded people, and making a valuable contribution to your community.
Send an email to Valerija Tkacenko, our Event Coordinator, at eventsvolunteers@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you'd like to volunteer.
Contact
Sponsor our events
Send an email to our Events Team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
Take part in the Sma’ Shot Parade
Send an email to our Events Team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
Register as a stallholder
Send an email to our Events Team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
Register as a trader
Send an email to our Events Team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
General enquiries
Send an email to our Events Team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.