The council's annual events programme in 2023 generated £5 million for the local economy and brought £3.3 million in spending from residents and visitors.

These figures were reflected in a report which also stated that more than 3,500 opportunities were created for children, young people and groups in the area to participate in events last year.

These included the Paisley Halloween Festival, Paisley Food and Drink Festival and Renfrew Pipe Band Championships.

The benefits in the report include creating opportunities for people to gain training and develop skills, helping people connect and improve their wellbeing by joining in activities, co-designing events, volunteering roles and removing barriers to participation.

The Gazette: The Paisley Food and Drink Festival saw more than 360 children participate in free family

Councillor Iain Nicolson, Renfrewshire Council leader, said: "Renfrewshire’s popular events programme not only delivers an economic boost for the area and local businesses, it also plays an important role in helping to support our communities.

“By generating more opportunities for people to participate in creative activities and working with the local community to help design events, we can ensure we continue to deliver inclusive events that people want to attend which can help positively impact people’s wellbeing.”

The Paisley Halloween Festival, the council's flagship event, offered the widest range of participation opportunities.

More than 700 opportunities were generated for young people, groups and cultural organisations, including creative workshops and artistic installations.

The Paisley Food and Drink Festival saw more than 360 children participate in free family activities such as pizza-making workshops and cookery classes.

The Gazette: The Paisley Halloween Festival, the council's flagship event, offered the widest range of

Hilda Cameron, from Cameron School of Dance, said: "The children had an amazing experience boosting their confidence and learnt new skills such as aerial skills - trapeze and hoops."

The events programme also expanded volunteering opportunities, with more than 2,000 volunteering hours carried out across the events calendar, with the majority of those hours supporting Paisley’s hosting of The Royal National Mòd last October.

One Mòd volunteer said: “It was inspiring, full of camaraderie, customer-facing, and a brilliant use of my time. I loved it.”

Another said: “There was plenty of support and a great atmosphere during the Mòd. I felt valued.”

Pauline Allan, events manager at the council, said: “I’m delighted that each year we’re able to grow the number of opportunities for our local communities to take part in our events programme, whether that’s through helping design the events, join in or play a part in making the event happen.

“We listen to feedback all the time which is really important to reflect on as we develop our programme to ensure communities get the most out of our events and we make them as inclusive and accessible as possible.”

For more information on upcoming events in Renfrewshire, go to renfrewshire.gov.uk/events.