Paisley was taken over by live performers and excited residents on Thursday night, to celebrate the start of the town’s three-day Halloween Festival.
The historic town centre came alive with attractions including aerial acrobats, a fire-breathing dragon, drummers and flame-throwers – as well as a creepy spider’s lair.
![Paisley Halloween Festival is 'one of the biggest and best of its kind in the UK'.](https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/f34d4119ea3f9505423a489c43f56a65-1666954433.jpg)
Young people from Starlight Youth Music Theatre brought to life the giant spider puppet, which sits in its own lair in Abbey Close complete with luminous eggs.
![The spider was inspired by the legendary story of Robert the Bruce.](https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/c9e02acb2539ce0460a531181236134d-1666954392.jpg)
The puppet was inspired by the legendary story of Robert the Bruce, who was determined to ‘try, try and try again’ after watching a spider attempt over and over to weave a web, in a nod to Paisley’s historic royal links.
![The event is free to attend.](https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1929a45018b5774e1603ea867315cc0d-1666954541.jpg)
The free-to-attend family event will continue over Friday and Saturday between 6pm and 9pm, set against the illuminated backdrop of Paisley’s 850-year-old Abbey.
Attendees can expect to enjoy live performances, specially-created installations, spoken-word projections and superhero-themed children’s activities – all inspired by heroes, myths and legends.
![The festival is delivered by Renfrewshire Council.](https://news.stv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/c65922dff4e5cc54edfc6ab30e20208b-1666954370.jpg)
Paisley Halloween Festival is delivered by Renfrewshire Council in partnership with internationally-recognised circus performance specialists Cirque Bijo.
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