Paisley Halloween Festival will go ahead as planned on Friday 23 October, but organisers have yet to confirm Saturday's programme as two storms head for Renfrewshire this weekend.
In an update at 3.30pm on Thursday, Renfrewshire Council said it was monitoring the weekend forecasts closely. Friday's programme is going ahead as planned, subject to ongoing weather assessments, and an update on Saturday's programme will be given closer to the time.
The weekend's weather looks challenging. A Met Office yellow warning for rain linked to Storm Austen covers Renfrewshire from 6am on Friday until 3am on Saturday. Between 20mm and 40mm of rain is expected widely, with 60mm to 80mm possible in places. Storm Boelo then arrives on Saturday, with a yellow wind warning for the whole of mainland Scotland from 6pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday. Gusts of 55 to 65mph are expected widely, and could reach 70 to 80mph on exposed coasts and high ground. That warning starts an hour before Saturday's parade is due to step off.
If Friday goes ahead as expected, the festival runs from 4pm to 9pm in Paisley town centre. Live performances in County Square start at 4pm, street theatre runs along Gauze Street and at the top of Dunn Square, and the 400-strong Halloween parade sets off at 7pm. The parade route takes in Smithhills Street, Gauze Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Cotton Street and Gilmour Place, and takes about an hour.
This year's theme is 'Haunted House'. Returning favourites include Spark! LED Drummers and Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom, alongside new acts such as the shopping-trolley dance troupe Granny Turismo, Ember the Dragon, and the Mystic Mirror Globe and Sea Sphere. Light installations will appear around the town centre, including a show projected onto Paisley Abbey, giant snakes at the Town Hall and the giant spider at the corner of Gauze Street and Cotton Street. The council has already said the Haunted House parade float and the giant Frankenstein puppet will only be displayed in County Square before the parade if the weather allows.
Saturday's programme is planned to run from 2pm to 9pm, with a second parade at 7pm. Grandstand seating has sold out on both nights. The festival itself is free to attend.
Anyone planning to go should dress for the rain on Friday and check the council's Paisley Halloween Festival page for the latest before heading out on Saturday. We'll share any update on Saturday's programme as soon as it's announced.
Photo: Spark! LED Drummers at Paisley Halloween Festival. Image: Renfrewshire Council.