Paisley’s Christmas

Paisley’s Big Christmas Weekends

Paisley First have everything you need to get into the festive spirit with fun for all the family and a whole host of free activities and entertainment.

Paisley’s Cosy Christmas Trail
Thursday 28 November – Saturday 5 January
Help find and name all our cute and cosy Christmas characters hiding in local business windows an d you could win a prize with our Christmas Trail. Plus there will be a FREE Christmas chocolate treat for every child who completes the trail!

Pick up your trail leaflet from the Paisley First leaflet racks in the Piazza or Paisley Centre. Don’t forget to get your free activity sheet too!

Santa’s Grotto
Santa’s Grotto makes a return to the Paisley Centre. Open on the top floor of the centre on Saturday 7, 11 and 21 December from 11am – 3pm.

Best Dressed Christmas Window Competition
Wrap up warm, grab the family and take in the festive window displays created by our local town centre businesses.

To make sure you see them all, just grab a leaflet from our leaflet racks in either shopping centre. Judging will take place on Saturday 30th November with this year’s Guest Judge, local artist Celie Byrne.

12 Days of Christmas Competition
Follow Paisley First on social media and, from 1-12 December, fantastic prizes from local businesses are up for grabs every day! But you can only enter via Facebook and Instagram social media channels so make sure to be following @PaisleyFirst!

Paisley is the only place to be this Christmas – Love Local, Love Paisley!

More great Christmas events and activities

Christmas at Coats
Multiple dates and times
Coats Paisley, High Street, Paisley
Tickets available to buy now from Coats Paisley

Christmas Open Day at Sma’ Shot Cottages
Saturday 30 November
12pm-4pm
Sma’ Shot Cottages, Sma’ Shot Lane
Guided tours of our wonderful Paisley weaving heritage, together with tearoom and Christmas shopping. No booking necessary.

Afro-ttire Celebration Event
Saturday 30 November
Tannahill Centre, Ferguslie
Book your free ticket online
The School of African Cultures presents an African Traditional Fashion Show Dinner with fashion, food and some great performers including the Gnanwa Trance Fusion Band, Clare Robertson, David Destiny, Cheef Chebe: Glasgow Balafon Orchestra and free dancers Anyawara Ensemble & Ubuntu Band.

Lochwinnoch Christmas Lights Switch-On
Saturday 30 November
6.30pm
Outside McKillop Hall
Join villagers for the switch-on at the Christmas Tree outside McKillop Hall, with the carol-singing choir and the samba band in attendance. Then to the 3 Churches Inn for mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies with the Ukulele Group playing.

Accord Hospice Christmas Fayre
Saturday 7 December
10am-3pm
Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley
From festive games to face painters, tea room to baking stalls, an amazing variety for you to enjoy! 

Deck the Halls with Rainbow Valley Christmas Concert
Saturday 7 December
1.30pm
Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley
Buy tickets from Rainbow Valley charity
Held at the stunning Paisley Abbey, the event features seasonal performances, stalls, and access to the cafe. It promises to be a magical afternoon for all.

Festive Family Ceilidhs
Saturday 7 December
4.30pm and 7.30pm
Buy tickets from the OneRen website
Get on your dancing shoes  the much-loved festive ceilidh with Clamjamfrie.

Noel!
Saturday 7 December
7pm
St Mirin’s Cathedral, Incle Street, Paisley
Paisley Philharmonic Choir present their annual Christmas Concert. With special guests Johnstone Brass Band. Ticket details available soon.

Vivaldi Four Seasons at Christmas by Candlelight
Sunday 8 December
7.30pm
Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley
Buy tickets online from CityMusic Promotions website
Enjoy an outstanding musical evening in the lead-up to Christmas with a performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, in the candlelit Paisley Abbey. 
Featuring the exceptional musicians of The Piccadilly Sinfonietta and renowned pianist Warren Mailley-Smith.

Aunt Alma’s Attic
Wednesday 11 – Tuesday 17 December
Various dates and times
PACE at The Art Department, The Paisley Centre, Paisley
Buy tickets now from PACE Theatre Company box office
A magical, interactive theatre performance for babies and toddlers. Join the adventure with Rosie, a neat and tidy mouse who loves organising!

ACCORD Hospice Carol Service
Thursday 12 December
11am
Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley
Buy tickets online from ACCORD Hospice website

Experience the magic of Christmas with this traditional Carol Service. Let the timeless atmosphere of Paisley Abbey fill you with festive joy and holiday spirit. Poems, Reading and Singing from a local primary school. 

Brass & Voices Christmas Concert
Friday 13 December
7.30pm
Johnstone Town Hall
With Johnstone Brass Band and Wallace Primary School Choir.

The Gleniffer Singers Christmas Concert
Friday 13 November
7.30pm
Holy Trinity & St Barnabas Church, Back Sneddon Street, Paisley
Tickets £10 (including refreshment) from Audrey Bell on 07769 974945 or audrey.bell@ntlworld.com 
A mixed repertoire of Christmas favourites and sacred choral music, with guest performer Pauline Vallance on voice, flute and clarsach (Celtic harp). 

A Christmas Celebration for All the Family
Saturday 14 December
11am – 2pm
Community Garden, Barshaw Park, Paisley
Christmas activities and crafts for children of all ages, and stalls selling wreaths and Christmas arrangements, beautiful Barshaw cards, and calendars for 2025. Tasty home-baking will be for sale, and warming refreshments will be available.

Snowmen and Stars Workshop
Sunday 15 December
12pm-2pm
What IF Paisley, 25 Moss Street, Paisley
Come and have some fluffy festive fun as we make pom-pom snowmen with woolly hats and yarn-wrapped stars.

Beau and the Snow Fairy
Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December
Various times
PACE at The Art Department, The Paisley Centre, Paisley
Buy tickets now from PACE Theatre Company box office
Step inside the world of Beau’s Emporium, where a magical secret is waiting to be told. Join Beau, the toymaker, as they journey into an enchanted world beyond their imagination. 

The McDougalls: Fairytale Christmas Show
Saturday 21 December
1pm
Johnstone Town Halls
Buy tickets now from OneRen box office
Everyone’s favourite children’s theatre company presents their spectacular new winter show for 2024! Join stars of stage and screen Auntie Aggie, Max and Morag the Rabbit for a musical extravaganza in a world of wonder.

A Broadway Christmas Carol
Saturday 21 December
7.30pm
Mossvale Community Church, 60 Greenock Road, Paisley
Buy tickets online now or on the door
An intimate concert of songs from the musicals, carols and Christmas favourites from yesteryear. Featuring Kirsty Duncan (vocals), Aaron Hawthorne (Piano), Mark Wilson (violin).

Candlelit Christmas Eve Café and Watchnight Service
Tuesday 24 December
Café open from 9pm; Watchnight Service 11pm
Mossvale Community Church, 60 Greenock Road, Paisley
Celebrate a traditional Christmas Eve with carols and candles at Mossvale! Outside is illuminated by the beautiful Tree of Hope light sculpture; inside a warm welcome awaits at the Mossy Café with festive drinks and pies.

“Oh yes, they are!”

Have some family fun with a pantomime!

PACE presents Aladdin
Wednesday 27 November 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
Buy tickets from the PACE Theatre box office
This Christmas, PACE Theatre Company’s annual pantomime will be a new version of Aladdin; a re-imagining of the classic tale with a distinctly Scottish flavour!

Mother Goose
Saturday 30 November – Saturday 7 December
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office
Johnstone Phoenix Theatre Group are proud to present their latest pantomime. As always, it’s filled with lots of humour, upbeat musical numbers and colourful dances. It is the perfect way to kickstart your festive celebration!

Film favourites

Watch a screening of your festive fave or enjoy a live concert featuring classic Christmas soundtracks!

Home Alone
Sunday 1 December
11am
The Bungalow

Frozen Sing-a-long
Sunday 8 December
11am
The Bungalow

Elf / It’s A Wonderful Life
Sunday 15 December
11am / 6pm

Visit www.paisleyfirst.com for more details.

Christmas at the Movies by Candlelight
Sunday 15 December
6pm
Paisley Abbey, Abbey Close, Paisley
Buy tickets now 
Get ready to unwrap the ultimate holiday treat with our Christmas at the Movies concert! Join us as we embark on a jolly journey through the heart-warming and hilarious worlds of beloved Christmas films.

The Muppets Christmas Carol (U)
Saturday 20 December
5pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

Die Hard (15)
Saturday 20 December
7.15pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

The Polar Express (PG)
Sunday 21 December
3.30pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

Elf (PG)
Sunday 21 December
6pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

Arthur Christmas (U)
Monday 22 December
3.30pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

It’s A Wonderful Life (U)
Monday 22 December
6pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

A Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)
Tuesday 23 December
3.30pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

Love Actually
Tuesday 23 December
6pm
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office

The Gruffalo 
Saturday 28 December – Tuesday 31 December
Various times
Paisley Town Hall
Buy tickets from the OneRen box office