Parks, libraries and culture

Help spread the word

Paisley Halloween Festival attracts visitors from across Scotland and beyond. By sharing information about the festival, you can help more people discover what is happening in Paisley and Renfrewshire.

Please use our key messages, images and promotional materials on your:

• social media channels
• website
• newsletters
• venue screens
• noticeboards and community spaces

You can also create your own content using your organisation's tone of voice.

Key messages about Paisley Halloween Festival

You can use these key facts in your communications:

• Paisley Halloween Festival takes place on Friday 23 October from 4pm to 9pm and Saturday 24 October from 2pm to 9pm.
• The festival is free to attend.
• The Halloween Parade starts at 7pm each evening and lasts around 60 minutes.
• The parade route offers viewing points throughout the town centre.
• If visitors prefer quieter viewing areas, Mill Street is often a good option.
• Grandstand seating is available and offers a dedicated parade viewing area.
• Grandstand seating is available with a fantastic view of the parade. Tickets are priced at £15 per person and are available to buy here. 
• A fringe programme of Halloween-themed events and activities takes place across Paisley and Renfrewshire during the festival weekend and throughout the Halloween period.
• The festival brings thousands of visitors to Paisley each year, supporting local businesses and the wider local economy.

Share your Halloween activities

Are you planning something special for Halloween?

Whether you are decorating your shop window, creating themed food and drink, running an event, extending your opening hours or hosting family activities, we would love to hear about it.

Sharing what is happening across Renfrewshire helps create a stronger festival atmosphere and gives visitors more reasons to explore the area.

Tag us on social media

Show people how you are taking part in the festival.

When you post about your Halloween activities, tag us on Instagram @PaisleyHalloweenFestival so we can see what you are doing and share selected content with our audiences.

You can also use:

#PaisleyHalloweenFestival2026

Using the hashtag helps visitors discover festival-related activities, events and offers happening across Renfrewshire.

Download promotional assets

We have created a range of free resources to help you promote the festival.

Festival poster

Download and display the official Paisley Halloween Festival poster in your venue, workplace or community space. Downloadable artwork below. 

Editable poster

Use the blank poster template below to add your own Halloween events, opening hours or seasonal activities.

Fringe Festival venue badge

If you are taking part in the Paisley Halloween Fringe programme, download a venue badge to use in your marketing materials and online channels.

Paisley Halloween Festival is one of Scotland's best-known Halloween events and has welcomed families, visitors and local communities to Paisley for many years. 

Each autumn, the town centre becomes the stage for a unique programme of street theatre, live performances, illuminated installations, community participation and Scotland's largest Halloween parade. 

Inspired by the theme 'Haunted House', the 2026 festival invites visitors to explore a world of imagination filled with larger-than-life characters, spectacular visual performances, themed entertainment and unforgettable moments around every corner. 

Whether you're visiting with family, enjoying a night out with friends or discovering Paisley for the first time, there are experiences for all ages throughout the weekend.

Volunteers help bring Paisley Halloween Festival to life every year.

There are opportunities to support visitor welcome, stewarding, wayfinding and festival operations. Volunteering is a chance to meet new people, gain event experience and be part of one of Scotland's most recognised events. The festival also relies on the creativity and support of local community participants who contribute to performances and parade elements. 

Further information about volunteering opportunities will be published ahead of the event. If you would like to volunteer for Paisley Halloween Festival, or any other Renfrewshire Council event please get in touch. 

Email us at eventsvolunteers@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Plan your journey to Paisley Halloween Festival

Paisley is easy to reach by public transport and road.

By train

Paisley Gilmour Street station is a short walk from the festival site and has regular services from Glasgow Central, Ayrshire and Inverclyde.

The journey time to Paisley from Glasgow Central is less than 15 minutes. On arrival at Paisley Gilmour Street, exit via County Square to reach the festival site.

Plan your journey at www.scotrail.co.uk.

By bus

Local and regional bus services operate to Paisley town centre throughout the year. Visitors should check travel information before travelling as some services may be affected by event road closures. 

Plan your journey at www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk.

By car

Paisley town centre is a 12-minute drive from Glasgow City centre and just minutes away from the M8 motorway exits 27 and 29. 

Parking is available in Paisley town centre, although some locations will be affected by festival road closures. Visitors are encouraged to plan their journey ahead of travelling.

If you’re travelling by car, we recommend the following parking locations:  

• Piazza Shopping Centre car park (open until 9pm) 
• Horizon Car Park (Paisley Shopping Centre) (open until 10pm)
• West College Scotland.

Road Closures 

Paisley Halloween Festival can be a busy event, with some disruption to traffic and public transport. Please read the road closure guidance and plan ahead.

For any enquiries about Paisley Halloween Festival including sponsorship, fringe activity, volunteering or accessibility please email.  

events@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Halloween Parade

The spectacular, 400-strong parade will wind through Paisley town centre each night from 7pm. 

The parade features world-class returning performers including spine-tingling Spark! LED Drummers and Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom. Plus brand-new acts like comedic shopping trolley dance act Granny Turismo, the majestic Ember the Dragon, and spectacular mirror and sea-themed show globes to name a few. 

The parade also features themed performance groups, community participants, music, special effects and large-scale visual creations inspired by the Haunted House theme.

The parade route will include: Smithhills Street, Gauze Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Cotton Street, Gauze Street and Gilmour Place and will take approximately 60 minutes from start to finish.

Grandstand seating

Grab a ticket to view the spectacular parade from the comfort of our covered grandstand seating area.  

Ticket-holders will enjoy:  

• A covered seat in the grandstand with a fantastic view of the parade. (Seating is unreserved).
• A complimentary hot drink and baked good of your choice from Coffee Mill.
• Pre-parade shows hosted by Go Radio's Zoe Kelly, from 6pm featuring: 
  • Pete Anderson – internationally renowned street performer    
  • Missy Impossible danger-fuelled street show, which is fun for all the family.

Ticket prices

• £15 per person (inclusive of booking fee)
• £54 for a group of four (inclusive of booking fee)

Visit Universe ticket sales to book tickets

Please note the grandstand seating is not accessible. A covered, ground level, accessible viewing area is available next to the seating area. Please read on for more information about accessibility at the Festival or contact events@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Street performances

Gauze Street

Throughout the day a programme of internationally renowned street acts featuring:

• Spark! LED Drummers
• Vampire Duo Brad and Vlad
• Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom
• Granny Turismo
• Ember the Dragon
• Mirror and sea-themed show globes
• Under-the-sea themed stilt-walkers

A full programme timings will be announced ahead of the event.  

Gauze Street and top of Dunn Square 

Experience daring acts from Missy Impossible, and Pete Anderson, to the stunning Show Globes, and Granny Turismo in this new performance area for 2026. Full programme timings will be announced ahead of the event.  

Light installations

Lighting displays and illuminated artwork will transform streets, public spaces and buildings across the town centre as darkness falls.

Giant Spider

Location: Corner of Gauze Street & Cotton Street 

Our giant spider is once again out and about on the streets of Paisley, how close do you dare to get?!   

Light Show on Paisley Abbey  

Location: Paisley Abbey

Transforming Paisley Abbey into a spectacle especially for Halloween, with eerie eyes watching from the shadows, bats swooping across the architecture and spiders creeping through the stonework.

Snakes 

Location: Paisley Town Hall 

The front of the Town Hall will be transformed into a spooky jungle with giant snakes slithering between the columns . 

Grollop Monster 

Location: Roof of Piazza Shopping Centre 

A giant colourful inflatable monster will tower over the front of the Piazza Shopping Centre.   

Halloween Moon 

Location: Paisley Town Hall (back)
A spooky full moon descends over Paisley providing a glowing light for monsters and madness to unfold in the town centre. 

Please note; the following installations will be in situ in County Square prior to the parade, subject to weather conditions: 

• Haunted House a haunted house float created for the event by Handmade Parade to lead the parade  
• Frankenstein huge puppet created by local street theatre company Bridgeman Arts

Funfair

Family-friendly rides and attractions will operate across the festival weekend at the Lagoon area and East End Park.

Fringe programme

The Fringe Programme provides additional Halloween-themed activity across Paisley, helping visitors extend their stay and explore more of the town centre. Activities may include:

• late-night shopping
• family workshops
• community events
• seasonal entertainment
• special promotions from local businesses.

If you are based in Renfrewshire, are planning to run a Halloween themed event and are interested in being part of Halloween fringe programme please get in touch by Wednesday 1 October. 

I want to be part of the Halloween Fringe

Sustainability 

We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of the festival. Visitors can support this by:

• using recycling facilities across the event site
• travelling by public transport where possible
• walking between festival locations
• supporting local traders and suppliers operating at the event.

Many of our food and drink traders aim to reduce single-use plastics and use more sustainable alternatives where possible.

Support the Festival 

Businesses can support the festival by:

• participating in the Fringe Programme
• hosting Halloween-themed activities
• extending opening hours during the festival weekend
• promoting festival activity through their own channels.

If you are interested in sponsoring Paisley Halloween Festival please get in touch. 

Email us at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk