Villagers love their lockdown Lilias Day
Villagers got into the spirit of the first ever lockdown Lilias Day.
The historic event usually attracts hundreds to Kilbarchan and normally people decorate their houses and have scarecrows out front for passers-by to enjoy.
A week of events is followed by a colourful parade of floats through the streets to Kilbarchan Public Park.
This year’s event was sadly cancelled but organisers were determined to get everyone involved to celebrate the event from their own homes.
There was live music, houses were still decorated – many with lockdown or NHS themes - and there were several scarecrows built in gardens.
Susan Russell, from the organising committee, said: “We had lots of people decorating houses and building scarecrows which was lovely to see.
“It really helped to brightened up the village and capture the Lilias Day spirit.”
The parade is usually led by Kilbarchan Pipe Band and this year members played a tune from their doorsteps at 1pm instead.
Folk from Kilbarchan are traditionally called Habbies, after the village’s famous 16th century piper Habbie Simpson.
This year, Habbie came out of the steeple and walked to the weavers cottage at 1pm, the time the parade would normally start, and organisers live streamed the performance on Facebook.
Susan added: “Members of Kilbarchan Pipe Band also played a tune from their door steps at 1pm and Habbie made a special guest appearance, abiding by social distancing rules.
“We live streamed Habbie coming out of the steeple and walking to the weavers cottage at 1pm.
“The video is on the Lilias Day Facebook page, both the live version and a filmed version. The live version has had over 4000 views!”
Lilias Day stretches back to at least 1717 when landowners would hold a village fair for the locals and build arches over the town.
A dedicated team of around 12 people on the committee start planning Lilias Day from January and another half dozen help out during the preparations.
To view all of the decorations and performances, go to www.facebook.com/liliasday
We hamd ots of people decorating houses and building scarecrows which was lovely to see