Renfrew and Johnstone set to get festive as Christmas arrives in Renfrewshire
Renfrew and Johnstone will officially mark the start of the festive season as the Christmas lights in each town are due to be switched on in the coming weeks.
Article Source: Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 21 November 2023 12:02
In Renfrew the town’s Robertson Park will host a festive day out for all the family from 12 noon on Saturday 25 November and there’s a sleigh-load of free activities on offer to keep even the littlest elf entertained.
There will be live stage performances from local acts throughout the day, a family funfair in the park, and you can follow our Christmas tree trail to meet Santa in his Grotto and share your Christmas wish lists.
There will be plenty of workshops to get involved in, including Christmas arts and crafts, and there will be a Christmas Market selling seasonal fare.
Renfrewshire Toy Bank will also be in the park until 2.30pm, accepting donations for children across Renfrewshire this festive season.
The day will culminate with the traditional Renfrew Burgh Band carol concert, which will take place in the McMaster Centre at 3.30pm, and a light switch-on moment in the park at 5.00pm with Depute Provost Cathy McEwan and Renfrew’s Christmas Card competition winner.
It’s Johnstone’s turn on Saturday 2 December and Houstoun Square will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a variety of entertainment on offer.
There’ll be entertainment in the bandstand from 1pm with Johnstone Sound and local acts performing live throughout the day.
Santa will be in town to meet the children of Johnstone and discover what they are hoping to find in their stockings this year. You can find him inside his grotto.
Don’t forget to visit the Christmas market – hosted by St Vincent’s Hospice – and get a start on some of your Christmas shopping.
There are activities for all ages with a funfair on site in Houstoun Square and free children’s activities and film showings will be running throughout the day in Station Seven – chosen by the community as part of the #YouDecideJohnstone pilot project.
Over 600 local residents voted as part of #YouDecideJohnstone for activities they’d like to see as part of the event, also choosing free face painting, themed street entertainers to get everyone in the holiday spirit and a giant snow globe for those perfect family photos – so make sure to bring your phones and cameras along to capture the moment.
At 5pm the community will come together at the bandstand as Provost Lorraine Cameron and Johnstone’s Christmas Card competition winner light up Johnstone for the Christmas period.
Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “I can’t wait to see everyone out celebrating the festive season this year.
“Switching the lights on is always a highlight of my year and I am excited to once again be able to give local children the opportunity to take part in this special moment through my Christmas Card Competition.
“There’s always a great atmosphere in our communities on the day as everyone gets in to the Christmas spirit, and with so much to do in both Renfrew and Johnstone this year it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family.”
Research shows around 70p from every pound spent in the local area stays in the local area and Renfrewshire Council are encouraging visitors to the Christmas events to take part in the Spend Local campaign and support the wide range of businesses on offer in Renfrew and Johnstone town centres.
The council, in partnership with Scotland Loves Local, is giving away Renfrewshire gift cards worth £250 each to 12 lucky winners across the area.
To enter the competition, all you need to do is complete the online entry form or pick up and complete a competition entry postcard at one of our events.
The Renfrewshire Gift Card is easy-to-use and makes sure your money is spent locally – supporting local businesses with every purchase.
Entries to the competition close at 12 noon on Friday 15 December with Renfrewshire’s Provost, Lorraine Cameron, drawing the winners at random on Monday 18 December.
To find out more visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/spendlocal
Sponsored Links
Latest Renfrewshire News
The Bungalow is a musical home from home for rocker Davey
Rock star vocalist Davey Pattison spent 40 years performing in arenas and stadiums all over America.
READ MORE
Annual recruitment event returns to Braehead Shopping Centre
On Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th September, Braehead Shopping Centre will host its 3rd annual recruitment event.
READ MORE
Online radio chat show going from strength to strength
When Rachael Smith started hosting her weekly chat show 'Buddie Talk' on Paisley Radio back in March this year, she never envisioned that it would take off quite as much as it has.
READ MORE
Award winning show Stuntman comes to Paisley Arts Centre
Award-winning Scottish company SUPERFAN will bring their high-octane smash hit Edinburgh Fringe show Stuntman to Paisley Arts Centre on Wednesday 17th September!
READ MORE
Spooky season returns to town with the announcement of Paisley Halloween Festival 2025
Paisley Halloween Festival will return to town next month to celebrate the spooky season with a packed programme of frightful fun for all the family!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
M&Ds teams up with Zombie Infection for a heart pounding, live action horror attraction
M&D's is set to transform into Scotland's Scream Park with the launch of Zombie Checkpoint, a live action immersive horror experience creating a heart racing adventure not for the faint hearted.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Winners of the 2025 Love Paisley Star Awards unveiled
The winners of this year's Love Paisley Star Awards have been announced.
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORE
Young people bring colour to Paisley through new murals
Young people have created three vibrant new murals to transform an area of Seedhill, Paisley.
READ MORE
Iconic buildings across Renfrewshire set to welcome visitors for Doors Open Days 2025
Spectacular venues from across Renfrewshire will welcome visitors as part of this year's Doors Open Days.
READ MORE
Fresh new line up for one of the biggest FREE food and drink festivals in Scotland
Vikings, a pie eating competition, new celebrated chef and dog & duck shows set to bring new energy to Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival this September.
READ MORE
From pouring pints to the red carpet: The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 crowns its hospitality stars!
The winners of the 2025 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards were unveiled on the 26th of August at a glittering, Oscars-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow.
READ MORE
Best Croissant Competition returns for 2025
The Edinburgh Butter Company has announced the return of its ‘Scotland’s Best Croissant’ competition on Monday 13th October.
READ MORE
GlasGLOW announces all new show for 2025, inspired by the legendary 80s campaign that made Glasgow smile
itison has confirmed that GlasGLOW will return to the Botanic Gardens from 24th October – 2nd November for its eighth year and with its biggest show yet... GlasGLOW's Miles Better!
READ MORE
Historic Environment Scotland launches Talking About Heritage
People across Scotland invited to take part in national conversation about heritage.
READ MORE
Tickets now on sale for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo closes the drawbridge on its 75th anniversary Show, as tickets for next year go on sale.
READ MORE
Beat the Street is returning to Renfrewshire
An interactive game encouraging people of all ages to get active and explore their local surroundings is set to return to towns and villages across Renfrewshire this autumn.
READ MORE
Momentum builds at Braehead with surge in sales, footfall and leasing
SGS UK Retail has announced that Braehead Shopping Centre is going from strength to strength, headlining outstanding sales and footfall growth for the year to date.
READ MORE
Primark celebrates 50 years in Scotland with a wee nod to loyal Scots in all stores today
Scottish shoppers will hardly believe it when they see it today as Primark finally relents on one of its biggest brand debates after 50 years.
READ MORE
Christmas at Crieff Hydro returns with magical line up of festive activities
Scotland's best loved family resort, Crieff Hydro, has unveiled details of a specially curated programme of events as it prepares to welcome guests over the festive period.
READ MORE
Scots Language Awards 2025 shortlist unveiled
The shortlist for the Scots Language Awards 2025 has been unveiled, with figures from Scottish literature, theatre, education and business all in the running for awards at the annual ceremony.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links