Communities across Renfrewshire came together to celebrate the area’s first-ever Dolly Parton Day.
The day honours Dolly Parton and her legacy through her Imagination Library. It was proposed by Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron earlier this year.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps Renfrewshire children to develop a love of reading from an early age. Since 2021, all Renfrewshire children aged 2 to 5 are able to receive a free book each month. Funding for the programme was made permanent in 2025.
Celebrations for Dolly Parton Day began with a musical tribute. Dolly’s Divas (pictured above at Johnstone Town Hall), a group of musicians and pipers from Johnstone High School, performed Coat of Many Colors outside Johnstone Library. The pupils were supported by Renfrewshire Instrumental Music Service.
Local line dancing group The Caroliners did a flash mob in Paisley town centre. They line danced to Dolly’s popular hits 9 to 5 and Jolene.
Provost Cameron was one of many people to get a Dolly tattoo from L’Ink’D Tattoos. The tattoo parlour is donating some of its proceeds to Renfrewshire’s Imagination Library.
Local pub The Ugly Duck held a karaoke with each song generating money for Renfrewshire’s Imagination Library.
Nurseries and childminders across the area were a huge part of the celebrations.
Scottish line dancing champion Maggie Stevenson visited Glenburn Early Learning and Childcare Centre. Maggie taught children and staff how to line dance. Picture below:
Books were gifted to the community by Bridge of Weir Early Learning and Childcare Class through their Dolly Trolley. Picture below:
Many nurseries held hoedowns, including St Charles’ Early Learning and Childcare Class. It was butterfly-themed in honour of Dolly’s personal emblem.
Young musicians from Gleniffer High School performed Dolly music for children at Lochfield Early Learning and Childcare Centre.
Children baked Dolly-themed recipes at Heriot Early Learning and Childcare Class.
Ellie, a piper from Johnstone High School, performed outside three libraries – Paisley Central, Renfrew and Bishopton.
OneRen libraries across Renfrewshire held a special Dolly-themed Bookbug with pink clothing and cowboy hats.
Paisley Town Hall was lit up in pink to honour Dolly Parton on Friday evening – pictured above.
Local shops and families also put butterflies in their windows to create a special community trail.
Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “It has been fantastic to see communities right across Renfrewshire come together for our very first Dolly Parton Day.
“The day celebrates how important the Imagination Library has been on young children’s literacy. Having a love of reading for pleasure helps children to develop confidence, language and curiosity. It creates special moments for children and their families to share together.
“The enthusiasm shown by our nurseries, local businesses, families and communities has been wonderful. Renfrewshire is incredibly proud to be part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It’s why I put forward the motion to hold Dolly Parton Day to showcase its lasting legacy for local children.”
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Piper Ellie performing outside Bishopton Library (pictured above) |
Helena Barrett-Duncan, Dollywood Foundation Regional Director for Scotland, said: “Dolly believed every child should have the chance to grow up with books and stories. Renfrewshire has brought that belief to life, delivering more than 230,000 books to local children since the programme began.
“It’s been lovely to see children, families, schools and businesses make the first Dolly Parton Day their own. Thank you to Provost Cameron and everyone who took part. The music and celebrations are a fitting tribute to Dolly, and the books arriving through children’s letterboxes each month carry her legacy forward.”
Any child aged 2, 3 or 4 living in Renfrewshire or attending a Renfrewshire nursery or childminder is eligible for free books. Parents or carers can register for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on the international website.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the pre-eminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted over 300 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. The program is made possible through a unique partnership model in which funding is shared between Dolly, her Foundation and hundreds of Local Community Partners. Today, the Imagination Library mails over 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month directly to children’s homes. Every enrolled child receives one book per month from birth to age five—at no cost to their families.
Inspired by her own father’s struggles with literacy, Dolly created the Imagination Library to spark a lifelong love of reading and to inspire all children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More.
The programme has been widely researched, and results demonstrate the positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
For more information, please visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/uk.
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St Charles’ ELCC – hoedown – pictured |
Background to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire Council is the first local authority in Scotland to offer every child aged 2- to 5-year-olds a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The books are delivered to the homes of all registered children.
The programme began in 2011 with free books for all care-experienced children. In 2021, it expanded to all children aged 2 to 5. Since 2025, funding for the expansion has been made permanent.
In February 2026, Provost Cameron proposed a Dolly Parton Day. This was agreed with Dollywood Foundation UK and announced in July 2026.
Over 230.000 books have been given out and over 10,000 children have benefitted from the programme since it began.
