Brediland House – Paisley
June 28, 2011Street Stuff’s biggest ever programme of free summer activities
July 1, 2011
Date: Saturday 2 July
Time/ Venue:
12pm – parade sets of from Brodie Park, Paisley, finishing at Abbey Close.
12.30pm onwards – youth gym bus at Paisley Cross.
BBC Radio DJ Ally McCrae and a variety of local bands and performers at County Square, Paisley.
Stalls, dancers, singers, mini-farm and tea dance at Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close.
1.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm – Clan Scotland Cycle Stunt Team shows at Paisley Cross.
5pm – ‘Burning of the Cork’ fire display, Abbey Close.
Paisley is set to celebrate the historic victory of the town’s weavers over the mill owners with a packed day of fun and entertainment this weekend.
Sma Shot Day, which is one of the oldest workers’ festivals in the country, starts at 12noon with the traditional parade from Brodie Park to Abbey Close, lead by Renfrewshire’s Provost Celia Lawson and culminates in the spectacular burning of the cork at Abbey Close at 5pm.
In between there will be lots going on including the Clan Scotland Cycle Stunt Team showing off their skills at Paisley Cross, alongside the youth gym bus.
At County Square there will be entertainment provided by BBC Radio DJ Ally McCrae and a variety of local bands and performers as well as a range of arts and crafts on offer.
If that’s not enough, at Paisley Town Hall and Abbey Close there will be a tea dance from 1pm, a mini farm, a selection of variety acts, dancers and singers, a community planning partnership marquee and PACE Theatre Group’s performance of the Sma Shot story.
Sma Shot Day celebrates the victory of Paisley’s weavers over the town’s mill owners in the 19th century. The owners refused to pay their staff for the Sma’ (small) Shot thread which was unseen but held together the famous Paisley patterned cashmere shawls.
A long fight and political battle ensued which the weavers eventually won and renamed the traditional July holiday Sma Shot Day.
Renfrewshire’s Provost Celia Lawson said: “Sma’ Shot Day is a unique festival that celebrates an important episode in Paisley’s history. It has been celebrated with a parade and family day for over 150 years and this year’s programme looks like our best yet.
“The parade is always great fun with lots of music and people in fancy dress and as ever I hope the people of Renfrewshire will come out and join in the festivities.”
