Programme

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.

Background information

The Scottish Government are transitioning to 'a net-zero emissions Scotland for the benefit of our environment, our people, and our prosperity.'

The world-leading climate change legislation in Scotland sets a target date for 2030 for a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045 - with the aim of ending our contribution to climate change, definitively, within one generation.

In June 2019, there was cross-party support for a council motion which declared a climate emergency in Renfrewshire and a working group was set up with members of all political parties to make recommendations on how to make Renfrewshire net zero by 2030. - now formalised in our Planning and Climate Change Policy Board.

Planning and Climate Change Policy Board

Decisions around climate change are taken at the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, with meetings take place every 2 to 3 months.

Previously, a Climate Change Sub-Committee was in place made up of cross-party elected members who worked closely with officers to steer the direction of our response to the climate emergency.

The Edinburgh Declaration

The Edinburgh Biodiversity Declaration is an international agreement to ensure action is taken at all levels to protect biodiversity and has been led and supported by the Scottish Government.

We have signed up to the declaration in Renfrewshire and recognise our duty to protect and enhance biodiversity.

Read more about the Edinburgh Declaration (Scottish Government).

Renfrewshire's plan for net zero

Our Plan for Net Zero sets out the strategic framework required to work towards our ambitious climate change targets in Renfrewshire.

It outlines the reasoning, research, themes, actions and next steps required as we work towards becoming net zero by 2030.

As a Council, we are taking a leadership approach, working across our Council services, and with our local businesses, stakeholders and the local community, to make the radical, but essential, changes needed.

Read more about our Plan for Net Zero.

Renfrewshire Climate Panel

We want to engage with the local community on green issues and use the knowledge and enthusiasm of local people to shape our response to the climate emergency.

We have recruited a cross-section of the local community to form the Renfrewshire Climate Panel and they help us make decisions, ensure that our strategy is the right one for Renfrewshire, and are the driving force locally of our climate change ambitions.

Recruitment took place via a Climate Change Survey issued to residents in August 2021 and the first meeting took place in November 2021. The group has continued to meet regularly to receive updates on the ongoing work and to help shape future decision-making.

Biodiversity

We are creating wildlife-friendly environments as part of the Council's ambitious commitment for Renfrewshire to work towards net zero by 2030.

The first eight areas to be transformed, as agreed by the Infrastructure, Land, Environment and Policy Board were in Linwood, Erskine, Johnstone, Inchinnan, Lochwinnoch and Paisley and the projects included roadside wildflower corridors, wildflower areas and new native tree planting.

Take a look at our current biodiversity projects in Renfrewshire.

We will continue to engage with communities on further biodiversity areas throughout Renfrewshire.

Support the Ren Zero campaign

To reach the area's ambitious goal of becoming net zero by 2030, we will need to take a collaborative approach with communities, businesses, partners and organisations all working with us to make the radical, but essential, changes required.

So, please show your support for the campaign by using our brand toolkit.

Contact us if you want logos, an event poster advertising, a supporter poster, a PowerPoint presentation template, and more.

We're always looking for more community members, businesses, groups and organisations to be champions for the campaign and share best practice so please get in touch and be part of Ren Zero.

COP26

COP26 was the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and was held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021.

The summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Paris Agreement of 2015, which 196 countries signed, committed to holding the increase in the earth's temperature to well below 2 degrees and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.  It was hailed as equitable and ambitious, with each country doing its share to meet the 2 degrees goal

The COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact

Climate justice is critical: Those who have contributed least to climate change are being impacted most.  COP26 agreed increased support for developing countries to help investment in green technology and also for adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The Scottish Government was described as breaking 'the taboo' around direct financing for less developed countries facing climate consequences they did little to cause, becoming the first country pledging funding for loss and damage.

Acceleration of target dates: There was agreement for all countries to revisit and strengthen their current emissions targets for 2030 by the end of 2022 in order to limit dangerous warming; and a pledge to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030

Annual reporting needed: 2030 is only 8 years away, so annual reporting was agreed for more accountability and to monitor progress closely to keep agreements on track

And a huge shift: The Glasgow Agreement from COP26 is the first time fossil fuels have been explicitly mentioned in a UN climate agreement.  The Paris Agreement didn't specifically mention oil, coal, gas or fossil fuels. The Glasgow Agreement signals shifting away from fossil fuels, with phase down of coal and phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.

In addition, 5 key goals on clean energy have been dubbed the 'Glasgow breakthroughs' and cover more than 50% of global emissions.

These are:

• making clean power the most affordable and reliable option
• zero emission vehicles to be accessible and affordable in all regions
• near zero emission steel production
• affordable renewable and low carbon hydrogen to be globally available
• climate resilient, sustainable agriculture to be the most attractive and widely adopted option for farmers everywhere.

We worked closely with our colleagues at Glasgow City Council and in the Glasgow City Region to support the summit and will continue to ensure Renfrewshire is represented wherever possible to ensure that we can feel the benefits of having had an international event so close to home.

Read about what was agreed at COP26.

Read about the background to Net Zero, Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, the Edinburgh Declaration, our plan for net zero, and the Renfrewshire Climate Panel.

Who will get replacements

We’ll survey every council home. If your kitchen, bathroom, wiring, heating or boiler is worn out, we’ll replace it. Not all homes will get upgrades.

Home survey

We’ll survey your home with the contractors we’re working with. 

We’ll go through any proposed works with you in more detail during the survey. You can ask us any questions or tell us anything we need to know, like any relevant medical conditions, or times and dates when you won’t be at home. 

Once we have surveyed your home and decided it needs replacements:

• we’ll write to you with a date for when the contractor will start work in your home
• you’ll get at least 7 days’ notice of the date the works will begin.

You must confirm if this date is suitable or tell us of any times where you will not be available because of holidays, appointments, or other reasons, and ask for another date and time. 
 

What replacements you’ll get

Kitchen replacements

Kitchen replacements will include:

• a stainless-steel sink and taps set into the countertop, new kitchen units, and worktops
• installation of a splashback above worktops and a stainless-steel splashback at your cooker space – a splashback is a layer attached to the wall to protect your kitchen walls from spills, stains or marks
• installation of (non-slip) vinyl flooring
• electrical rewiring, and repositioning of sockets if necessary.

This means there may be some changes to the layout of your kitchen.

If your kitchen is being replaced, the kitchen supplier will also visit your home   to discuss the plan with you.

You’ll get a choice of two different colour schemes for kitchen drawer fronts, doors, worktops, and flooring. The splashback will match your worktop. 

Depending on the layout of your new kitchen, we may need to reposition radiators and switch off your central heating during this time.

Bathroom replacements

Bathroom replacements will include:

• a new bath or shower with waterproof wall panels
• a new electrical shower unit
• a new handwash basin and associated pedestal
• a new toilet and attached cistern
• installation of non-slip vinyl flooring.

Where a specific need is identified, or where the size of the bathroom does not allow for a full-size bath, we may need to install a shower cubicle instead. 

Electrical rewiring

The rewiring of your home will include:

• all new switches, sockets, light fittings, and back boxes (containers behind switches and sockets that hold wires)
• running new electrical cables throughout your home
• replacement of the fuse box (the box that controls electricity in your home), also called a consumer unit.

We’ll need access to all the rooms in your home, including under the floorboards. We recommend you’re not at home during the day while this work is being done.

If you have your own light fixtures and fittings   installed on the walls or ceilings, we’ll need to remove these and replace them with standard light fittings. We cannot put them back. 

If you want to keep your own your existing light fittings or fixtures, let the contractor know in advance and they will leave them aside for you. Otherwise, they will dispose of them. 

Full central heating and boiler replacements

A full central heating system replacement will include:

• installation of a new energy-efficient combination boiler
• all new radiators and pipework
• a new thermostat.

We’ll need access to all the rooms in your home, including under the floorboards. We recommend you’re not at home during the day while the work is being done.

It may also be necessary to change the locations of your radiators to maximise efficiency of the system and reduce your running costs. We’ll let you know if this needs to be done when we survey your home. 

If you’re only getting a new boiler, this should be a straightforward process with minimal disruption. However, we’ll deal with any issues if they occur when the new boiler is being installed. 

Costs

There are no costs for council tenants to have kitchen, bathroom, wiring, heating, or boiler replacements. If your decoration, such as painting or wallpaper, is damaged during the work we’ll make a payment to help with redecorating costs.

Before the works begin

You must allow the contractors access to your property to carry out the works. Tell us about any times or reasons we cannot access your home, such as holidays or hospital appointments. 

Make sure everyone in your home, including any visitors, knows the works are going on, and advise them to be careful.

Let us know when we survey your home if there are any elderly, infirm, or disabled persons who need special assistance or care elsewhere while the work is being done.

Before the contractor arrives, you must:

• remove all bathroom accessories such as mirrors, pictures, toilet roll holders, soap  dispensers, soap dishes, or toothbrush holders
• move any small, portable kitchen appliances such as your kettle, toaster, microwave, bread bin, food storage containers, utensil holders or other items
• empty out any storage or furniture, like cupboards or cabinets, which we’ll need to move or get access to, and move small items and ornaments to a safe location.

Contact your liaison officer if you need help moving items or packing. Do not lift or move anything that would cause you an injury.

Contents insurance

The contractor carries all required insurance. However, we recommend you have your own contents insurance to represent you in any claim or dispute. We advise you to take all reasonable measures to protect your belongings from accidental damage.

If you’re a council tenant, you can join the AVIVA contents insurance scheme or make your own arrangements for home contents insurance.

What happens during the works

Access to your home

The contractor will arrive each day between 8am and 9am so all places we need access to must be clear. 

You must allow the contractors access to your property to carry out the installations. If they cannot access your property at the agreed time, or there is no one at home, we’ll have to reschedule the works in your home. You may have to wait until we finish works in other homes before we can do yours.  

All contractors and council employees carry identification (ID), and they must show this to you before they enter your home.  

They can only work in your home between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, unless they have permission from you and the council to work outside of these hours.

During the work

The contractors will work through the day, and there may be times when you will not have access to cooking, heating, water, or toilet facilities. 

They may need to lift floor coverings and remove and replace heavy furniture to allow the works to be carried out.

They will 

• make sure any lifted floorboards are not left up overnight
• display all required warning signs
• screw down all lifted floorboards on completion of the works.

However, you take responsibility for carpets, laminated flooring or vinyl that is glued or nailed down and cannot be lifted by the contractor without damaging it. If you ask the contractor to lift it, the Council does not take responsibility for any damage caused to it.

They will protect your home as much as possible during the work with clean dust sheets and will clean up at the end of each working day. 

You’ll have a contact person throughout the works who you can phone, and an out-of-hours emergency contact number if needed.

Always supervise children and pets while the work is in progress.

How long it’ll take

These are the timescales for how long each installation will take:

• 7 working days for full kitchen, bathroom, and rewiring
• 5 working days for kitchen and rewiring
• 5 working days for bathroom and rewiring
• 2 working days for a new full heating system
• 1 working day for a boiler-only replacement.

A working day is Monday to Friday and does not include public holidays.

These timescales are for guidance only and while we aim to finish within the planned timescales, it may take longer if we identify unforeseen works. 

The contractor will make sure you are kept up to date on this at the end of each working day.

After the work is done

When the work has been finished, we’ll will inspect it to make sure they are completed to our satisfaction. 

We’ll also complete a customer satisfaction survey with you. You can provide us with feedback on your experience of the process and the quality of the completed work.

Once we’re satisfied the works are complete and all snagging (renovations with small faults or unfinished jobs, like chipped paint) has  been addressed, a Liaison Officer will visit to see if there’s been any damage caused to the décor of your home.

If there is, they’ll advise how much you will receive towards redecorating costs   and will pay it directly into your back account. This can take between 5 and 10 working days from when they process it.

We’re replacing kitchens, bathrooms, boilers, central heating systems, and electrical wiring in council homes where the current facilities are reaching the end of their life span.

We’re upgrading council homes to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), which ensures homes are energy efficient, safe, and in good condition.

We know that making these improvements to your home will be disruptive, but we’ll make sure support is available where it’s needed during the works.