We want our event to be as inclusive as possible, so that everyone can enjoy it.
This guide is designed to help you, or your loved one, navigate the event safely.
We’ve tried to cover as much as we can in this guide. But if you have additional questions, or if your enquiry is about a specific physical access need, please get in touch with the team at events@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Site description
Paisley Halloween Festival takes place across several streets and open areas in Paisley town centre. Most surfaces are hard and paved, with typical road surfaces and pavements. Ramps will be provided at key points to assist with changes in ground level.
Parade route
This year’s showpiece will be the parade, which will start at 7pm on both nights of the festival and last approximately 60 minutes.
The parade will take in Smithhills Street, Gauze Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Cotton Street, St Mirren Brae, Causeyside Street and Orchard Street. You can see the exact route it will take on this map.
There will be two accessible viewing areas for the parade; one at the Cenotaph and one on Cotton Street. Please see viewing areas below.
Stage and Street performances
There will be a stage located in the car park on Bridge Street. The stage will be on a raised platform to help with sightlines. Bridge Street car park is a flat, tarmacked area.
Street performances will take place at County Square, which is an open, paved square with cobbles and a few shallow steps. Performances will take place in the centre of the square.
Funfair
There will be fairground rides located in the Lagoon car park and East End Park. The Lagoon car park is a flat, tarmacked area. East End Park is a grassy area but track mats will be laid to allow wheeled access to installations and funfair.
Food and drink
Food and drink vendors will be located on High Street, Gilmour Place and at the Funfair. High Street slopes upwards on a gradient heading away from the Cenotaph. Gilmour Place is paved with a steady incline towards the Cenotaph.
There will be Marshmallow Pits in Dunn Square. The paths in Dunn Square are laid with bricks which can be a little slippery after rain. The most level access to Dunn Square is from St Mirren Brae, as access from Gauze Street requires a flight of steps.
Lights and visibility
While there is ambient lighting, along with general street lighting, Paisley Halloween Festival takes place after dark. Note that the stage and street performances start at 4pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday, when there will be more natural light – this is when ground visibility will be best.
There will be lighting installations throughout the event site. Some of the performances will also include lasers.
Sound and noise
As with any large-scale event, the festival site can get quite loud. There will be a mixture of music, ambient noise, singing and talking. As the site is in the town centre, noise can also echo off nearby buildings.
Accessible viewing areas
This year we have two accessible viewing areas. These will be large flat areas, providing a clear and unobstructed view. One will be at the Cenotaph, and one will be on Cotton Street, next to the grandstand seating. The accessible viewing area on Cotton Street will be covered, providing some shelter. Please see the parade map for exact locations. Both areas will be manned by stewards.
Accessible parking
Blue Badge parking will be available in Renfrewshire House car park, the Paisley Centre (Horizon) and the Piazza shopping centre car parks.
Access to Renfrewshire House car park (Council HQ) will be from the traffic light junction on Mill Street. Blue Badge spaces are available on the top deck of the car park.
Due to the parade route taking in Mill Street, Blue Badge holders must be parked before 6.30pm and won’t be able to exit until the parade has finished at 8pm. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Paisley Centre (Horizon) and Piazza car parks are also close to the event site. Shopmobility Renfrewshire are based in the Paisley Centre car park and can offer additional support.
Mobility support services
Shopmobility Renfrewshire supports people with mobility disabilities, to help them to move around and participate fully in social, economic and cultural activities in the local area.
This includes the hire of wheelchairs, powerchairs and electric scooters, for both day hire and longer periods at a low cost.
To enquire about equipment hire or their support services, contact the Shopmobility team on 0141 889 0441 or email admin@shopmobilityrenfrewshire.org.uk
Or find out more on Facebook.
Toilets and accessible toilets
There are 9 toilet locations around the site this year, and each location includes an accessible toilet.
- Gauze Street, next to the accessible viewing area close to the Cenotaph
- Bridge Street, next to the accessible viewing area
- Cotton Street, next to the Grandstand seating area
- Bridge Street car park, next to the Stage
- County Square
- Dunn Square
- Gauze Street, at the junction with Cotton Street
- Lagoon car park, next to funfair
- East End Park, next to funfair and installations
There will be a mobile Changing Place located on the path outside Renfrewshire House on Cotton Street.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome to attend, but please remember the event will be busy. If your dog isn’t used to loud noises and crowds, they may be best left at home.
Attending with a young family
Daytime entertainment
The stage and street programme will start at 4pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday and will feature many of the acts participating in the parade.
If you’re attending with very young children and if 7pm is too close to bedtime, you can still come along earlier and enjoy acts like Spark! LED Drummers, PyroCeltica and Able Mabel. The funfair and food and drink vendors will be open too.
Due to the natural light, some of the light shows may not be as bright at this time, but the site will be quieter.
Bringing a pram
There is no on-site pram parking for this event.
Baby Changing
There will be baby changing facilities within each of the accessible toilets located at:
- Cotton Street, next to the Grandstand seating area
- Bridge Street car park, next to the Stage
- County Square
- Dunn Square
- Gauze Street, at the junction with Cotton Street
- Lagoon car park, next to funfair
- East End Park, next to funfair and installations
