Paisley Halloween Festival's second night cancelled as Storm Boelo approaches
More than 400 performers took part in Friday's parade, but Saturday's events were called off over safety fears. Grandstand ticket holders will be refunded.
Paisley Abbey. File photo. · Photograph: Colin (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The second night of Paisley's Halloween Festival has been cancelled because of Storm Boelo.
Thousands of people turned out on Friday as the town centre was transformed with light shows, music, street theatre and a parade of more than 400 professional and community performers, based on this year's Haunted House theme.
But Renfrewshire Council called off Saturday's events because of the high winds forecast for the west of Scotland.
Lucy Adamson, the council's head of marketing, communications and events, said she was very sorry for the inconvenience, but public safety was the priority. Anyone who bought grandstand tickets for Saturday will be refunded and contacted by email.
Scotland's Halloween capital
Paisley has built a reputation as Scotland's unofficial Halloween capital, with its free two-day festival featuring a parade, street theatre and funfair.
The town's love of the macabre is often linked to its history. In the late 17th century it was the scene of the last known mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe, when seven people were hanged and burned. Their grave was sealed with a horseshoe, and local legend says the town will suffer if it is disturbed.