We do like to be beside the seaside
Paisley will go‘doon the watter’for Sma’Shot Day
Paisley will be transformed into a seaside escape this weekend for this year’s Weave Festival and Sma’ Shot Day celebrations.
On Saturday, hundreds of people will flood into Paisley to celebrate the traditional weavers’ holiday – and you can take a trip “doon the watter”.
Sma’ Shot Day, which is one of the world’s oldest worker festivals, will include the Weave Festival for the second time– offering a diverse programme of cultural events and activities.
The festival is part of an expanded programme of events which is part of Paisley’s UK City of Culture 2021 bidding legacy and will reconnect the town’s weaving heritage and global connections via a programme boasting around 30 shows in Paisley’s historic town centre.
The popular Sma’ Shot parade will leave Brodie Park at noon and finish up at Abbey Close.
This year’s parade is being coordinated by Bridgeman Arts in collaboration with a number of local community groups, performers and musicians. The parade will bring to life the theme of a trip “doon the watter” topped off with a spectacular paddle steamer boat float.
You can expect a colourful parade, the eye-catching Burning of the Cork, street theatre and live music.
The parade will be followed by a performance by local dance group right2dance who will showcase a specially choreographed routine on Abbey Bridge and Forbes Place, highlighting the town’s unique relationship with the White Cart.
Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “Weave Festival and Sma’ Shot Day is always a great event in the town’s calendar that attracts thousands of people into Paisley each year to celebrate our town’s important and rich history.
“There’s even more to keep the family entertained this year with the jampacked programme and the seaside transformation of the area is sure to bring a real holiday feeling to the town for all to enjoy.”
The event will feature performances from youth theatre school PACE who will re-enact the struggles of the Paisley weavers in their efforts for payment of the Sma’ Shot, the Makers’ Market will showcase a variety of innovative Scotland-based designers and makers.
There will also be a series of arts and craft workshops for all to enjoy as well as a number of weaving demonstrations which will take place at the Sma’ Shot Cottages, Threadmill Museum and Paisley Museum throughout the day.
Visitors can look forward to a raft of music, poetry and spoken word performances at the Dooslan Stane Stage, which will this year see a Youth Poetry Slam take place to mark the Year of Young People 20218 and encourage young people to express themselves through language and culture.
In addition to the firm favourites visitors have come to expect from the event there will also be a new raft of activities to attract and entice the crowds. The town centre will be transformed into a seaside escape complete with sandy beach, ice cream and candyfloss for the kids.
To find out more about the event, check out www.paisley.is
The seaside transformation of the area is sure to bring a holiday feeling to the town