Kilbarchan Lilias Day

Kilbarchan Lilias Day One of Scotland’s best and most historic village festivals. First Saturday in June. This year Kilbarchan Lilias Day is takes place on Saturday 11th June.

The event has been a part of village life for many years and a grand procession through the village has centuries of tradition behind it. A favourite character in the procession is Habbie Simpson, the piper from whom Kilbarchan people get their nickname of Habbies. He was the village piper in Kilbarchan at the end of the 16th century. Then, in 1822, a wooden statue was placed in a niche of the Ste

eple building in the village. This was replaced by a bronze one in 1932, and is to this day a local landmark. Lilias Day itself is named after Lilias Cuninghame, daughter of an 18th century laird. Traditionally, the day was marked with a cattle market and races, and then with a procession of men from different trades banging drums and waving flags. But the Lilias Day tradition died out at the end of the 19th century
Thanks to a team of dedicated enthusiasts, however, it has been restored in recent years and is now one of the brightest and best village events in Scotland. The parade will leave Tandlehill Road at 1.30pm and proceed through the village to the steeple, the onwards to the park. It will arrive at approximately 2pm when Miss Lilias will read the proclamation. Over the course of the afternoon, a number of events will take place in the arena. There will also be a number of local organisations with stalls selling home baking, tombolas and raffles for great prizes in the park from 1.30pm. Lilias Day is a major fundraiser for all the organisations who take stalls in the park, they really do rely on the support of people from Kilbarchan and other local villages.

As the bunting comes down for another year we’d love to extend a special thank you to everyone who makes Lilias Day poss...
13/06/2026

As the bunting comes down for another year we’d love to extend a special thank you to everyone who makes Lilias Day possible.

All the local groups and businesses who pay for an advert in our brochures.
Malcolm Group for supplying the floats for our community groups to decorate.
Peter Sandground for all our photography for the brochure.
Gowanlea for our Lilias Group bouquet.
Room19 hairdressing for our Miss Lilias hair.
Kilbarchan Pipe Band for playing our parade up the village.
Our high-vis volunteers who give up their time on the day to steward the parade, man the gates and let us be in two places at once!
To Renfrewshire council, the police and local councillors who make the day run smoothly.
Henderson Clark Action Team for the donation of teddy’s to sell on the teddy tombolla.
The Weavers Cottage for the photoshoot location.
The Old Library Centre for hosting our costume fittings and storage.
Our judges for best float & premises!
All our parade participants in costume, and on floats.
All our stall holders - you create such a friendly atmosphere and day out for all.
All the kilbarchan residents who dress their houses, make scarecrows and arches!
Our shops for taking part and dressing up whilst still working away!

And lastly to everyone who comes to our lovely little village to help us celebrate Lilias Day and make it a great day.

Until next year, your 2026 Lilias Day Committee 🦺

We have a watch that was handed into us - if you or someone you know has lost one please message us and we can get it re...
07/06/2026

We have a watch that was handed into us - if you or someone you know has lost one please message us and we can get it reunited with its owner! ⌚️

Our floats! Thank you to all who took part in decorating our floats this year. These are always a highly anticipated par...
07/06/2026

Our floats!
Thank you to all who took part in decorating our floats this year.
These are always a highly anticipated part of the parade so our judge (who we give a huge THANK YOU to) had her work cut out for her!

1st - Kilbarchan Jr Choir
2nd - Kilbarchan Nursery
3rd - Kilbarchan Primary

As ever we’d like to thank our residents and businesses for taking part in the day by decorating! The effort this year w...
07/06/2026

As ever we’d like to thank our residents and businesses for taking part in the day by decorating! The effort this year was excellent, our judge (Last years Miss Lilias Emily) had her work cut out for her.

Decorated premises:

1st Bobbins
2nd pharmacy
3rd Greens

Best organisation arch:

1st: Old library / hidden garden
2nd: Messy Church

Best performing arts piece by a premises:

Weavers cottage

Best home scarecrow:

1st: 7 station Rd
Joint 2nd: Taylor Ave and 'Park house'

Best home arch:

1st: 14 New Street
2nd: 21 High Barholm
3rd: 22 High Barholm

Best decorated house:

1st: 2 Montgomery Drive
2nd: 6 Easwald Bank

Overall winner and recipient of our new John Steven memorial prize is 7 station road: The Scarecrows Wedding 🙌🏼🏆

Floats:

1st: Kilbarchan Choir
2nd: Kilbarchan Nursery
3rd: Kilbarchan Primary

Kids Art competition- My Hero:

Anya B. Nursery/pre-scooler

Theo H. P1

Marseli. P2

Bella F. P3

Connie S. P4/5

Georgia. P5

Tony C. P6

Rachel R. P7

07/06/2026
THANK YOU !!Lilias Day 2026 has drawn to a close, with Habbie tucked back in the steeple for another year. Thank you to ...
06/06/2026

THANK YOU !!

Lilias Day 2026 has drawn to a close, with Habbie tucked back in the steeple for another year. Thank you to everyone who got slightly soggy to join us today, community spirit was shining bright even if the sun wasn’t!

We will make some individual gratitude shout outs tomorrow but for now we are hanging up the hi-vis for 2026.

👀🦺✨

Park getting ready! See you soon 😎
06/06/2026

Park getting ready!

See you soon 😎

Hope you’re all looking forward to tomorrow!! This is the trail map for decorated houses arches and scarecrows. There wa...
05/06/2026

Hope you’re all looking forward to tomorrow!!

This is the trail map for decorated houses arches and scarecrows. There was a late addition down at Tower House too 💐

We can’t wait to see them in all their glory tomorrow, judging from 10am 🙂

Address

High Barholm
Kilbarchan
PA102EQ

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