Fast becoming one of the UK's must-see events Scotland's biggest Halloween parade returns to Paisley on Saturday 27th October. Over 700 young people and industry experts will transform the streets of Scotland's largest town with aerial displays, giant floats and a ghoulish wonderland. Listed as a top UK festival in 2016 and 2017, the spooktacular attracts 30,000 visitors to the historic town for the Mardi Gras style parade.

Paisley's annual Halloween Festival is back with 'Something Wicked This Way Comes', featuring some of Scotland's most distinguished creatives and over 700 young people. The hugely popular event is inspired by the town's dark 17th century history, with Paisley the site of the last mass witch execution in western Europe.

The immersive parade will see 500 young people and performers pass through Paisley in costume, with this year's festival featuringfour new 'mega- floats' includinga giant four metre animatronic 'Witch and Cauldron'and'Day of the Dead' funeral scene.

Other highlights include the entire town being taken over by a ghoulish wonderland including light installations, haunting soundscapes and aerial acrobatic performances suspended 120ft in the air against the backdrop of Paisley's 850-year old Abbey.

The festival, supported by the Year of Young People 2018 event fund managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland's Events Directorate, has been significantly enhanced for the themed year with a full town centre takeover, drawing in tens of thousands of locals and visitors - boosting business for local retailers, restaurants and hotels.  

Young people are at the heart of the festival's development with Renfrewshire Council Events Team working alongside 20 members from Renfrewshire's Youth Panel to co-create the festival programme. The event is also giving 180 young people the opportunity to participate in all aspects of festival, as part of a new creative learning programme including masterclasses and workshops in event delivery and performance.

“It has been a great experience to be part of the festival and there are so many creative ways to get involved. I really love music and wanted to work on the soundscapes element of the lighting installations. The Parade has thrown up a lot of opportunities and we have been totally hands-on when the creative companies have asked for ideas. We are getting involved in everything from the technical side and working with aerial artists to creating large props and helping with special effects. I am really looking forward to seeing how everything will work together,” Kate McBurnie, (15), Renfrewshire Youth Panel spokesperson stated.

The festival involves leading Scottish creativesincluding the production and pyro experts at 21CC, aerial dance theatre company All or Nothing and parade specialists Bridgeman Arts. A centre piece of the parade will be the four giant floats, animatronic 'Witch and Cauldron', a 'Day of the Dead' funeral scene, illuminated 'Witch and Mushroom Patch' and interactive 'Pumpkin Patch Man', created by Bridgeman Arts.

“We simply love Paisley's streetscape. The 850-year old Abbey, the Cloisters and the Gardens set the perfect scene for a spectacular lighting and sound spectacle. Creating amazing experiential events and bringing people together in celebration is what drives us and is exactly what Paisley's Halloween Festival is all about,” 21CC Company Director, Geoff Crow stated.  

Other weekend highlights include top-class performers Spark! LED drummersand Edinburgh Samhuinn Fire Festival headliners, Beltane Fire Society, along with big screens around the town centre, a main stage showcasing amazing acts, funfair and cinema screening of horror films. Plus family-friendly activities and workshops such as pumpkin carving and costume balls for all ages.

"We are delighted to be supporting Paisley Halloween Festival to expand its offering as part of Scotland's Year of Young People 2018 celebrations. Young people will have the chance to showcase their own unique skills and talents while getting invaluable hands-on experience. It is a great opportunity for young people to take a leading role in designing and delivering a fantastic event within their local community, further reinforcing Scotland as the perfect stage for events as the creative learning programme will educate the event organisers of tomorrow," Paul Bush, OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events stated.

Paisley Halloween Festival returns on 26th and 27th October, with the parade starting at Paisley's Art Centre at 6pm on Saturday 27th October. The festival is part of Renfrewshire's programme of winter events which also includes the annual Spree Festival (12th to 20th October) and Paisley Fireworks Spectacular (Saturday 3rd November) and Christmas Lights Switch-on (Saturday 17th November). 

The full programme for the Paisley Halloween Festival 2018 is available at: https://paisley.is/featured_event/paisley-halloween-festival-2018/ | You can watch the Paisley Halloween Festival 2018 trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=_1o9V-nsV8g

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Editors Notes

The Year of Young People (YOYP) 2018 is a Scottish Government initiative consisting of a year-long programme of events and activities aimed at inspiring all ages of young people by celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities, and creating new opportunities for them to shine on a local and global stage.

Much of Paisley's Halloween Festival activity will be driven by a specially-convened 20-strong Youth Events Panel, who will take a lead role in the design and delivery of the event, and continue beyond the event as a key legacy.

Year of Young People 2018 funding will also provide 180 young people with the chance to take part in a new creative learning programme offering a unique, in-depth learning experience through masterclasses and workshops in all aspects of event delivery and performance from circus skills to technical production, and support a volunteering and internship programme. A global first YOYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government's themed- year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland's greatest assets.

A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland's Events Directorate. More information at: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/young-people/

Paisley's Halloween 2018 is supported by the Year of Young People 2018 Event Fund, managed by EventScotland, part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate which has awarded just over £48,190 to the festival. EventScotland is working with the events and festivals sector to develop an exciting portfolio of Year of Young People 2018 public-facing events which provide opportunities for young people to express themselves through a wide range of activity.