By Tom Jones
The clocks go back this weekend, half-term begins for Stroud’s school children and Halloween is just over a week away, but there’s still plenty going on for all ages across the Stroud district.
Free and low cost events in the Five Valleys include music for children at St Laurence’s Rooms, an exhibition as part of the Stroud Arts Festival, an open day at Fromehall Mill, a scarecrow trail and your last chance of the year to ride the tiny steam trains at Stratford Park Miniature Railway.
Find out more in our weekly look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district.
Regular and one off events
Attend an open day at Fromehall Mill – Mon 21 Oct, 2pm – 6pm
Head down to Fromehall Mill for an open afternoon with Creative Sustainability and their various community programmes, including the Access Bike bike workshop project and youth empowerment, inclusion and sustainability project 3rd Space. Plus learn about Creative Sustainability’s new venture at 10 John Street, including Stroud Library of Things, digital repair café and cycling workshops for adults.
Play samba with Simbora – Tue 22 Oct, 6:40pm
Join Simbora, Stroud’s newest community samba band for a starter lesson in Brazilian bateria-style samba drumming. This week’s new starter session is free, and those who enjoy it can sign up to one of the band’s weekly sessions for £4 each, opening up the opportunity to eventually join them at one of their regular gigs around town.
See Mr Robbie at Wednesdays at The Well Community Cafe – Wed 23 Oct, 11am
Fresh from an international tour with his band the Cash Cows, Stroud’s own Mr Robbie (aka Robbie Humphries) brings his guitar, harmonica and trademark handlebar moustache to Wednesdays at The Well Community Café at the St Laurence Rooms on The Shambles for a selection of much-loved songs for children. The community café (10:30am – 1:30pm) remains open to all ages throughout, and Mr Robbie’s songs are suitable for all ages.
Visit the harmony exhibition at Lansdown Gallery – Wed 23 – Sun 27 Oct, 10am – 4pm
This special nature-themed exhibition as part of the Stroud Arts Festival celebrates the natural world and showcases works from illustrators Beth Quarmby and Stu Mclellan, ceramicist Anna Simson, printmaker Charlie Ash and others. Independently-created works have been brought together by curator Jessy Plant to reflect the themes, ideas and performances of this year’s Stroud Arts Festival.
Take the Whiteshill Scarecrow Trail – Fri 25 Oct – Thu 7 Nov, 9am – 5pm
Pick up a map for £4 from Ruscombe & Whiteshill Village Shop and take a tour through the village, spotting homemade scarecrows themed around children’s literature. Each map offers participants an opportunity to vote for their favourite scarecrow and enter into a prize draw. Tea, cake and toilets available at the shop.
Ride Stratford Park Miniature Railway – 27 Oct, 2pm – 4pm
Head to the lake in Stratford Park to meet the Stroud Society of Model Engineers and take a ride on their miniature railway for the final time this year. Rides are offered behind a selection of battery and steam engines from 2pm until 4:30pm for a donation. No booking required, check the forecast before travelling as railway running is weather-dependent.
Beginning this week
Pick pumpkins at Cattle Country – 26 – 31 October, 10am – 4pm
Berkeley’s biggest farm park offers a special seasonal treat for all the family as they open their pumpkin patch for another year. Take your pick of hundreds of homegrown pumpkins from a range of pumpkin varieties and compete in a family games tournament. Plus, enjoy all Cattle County’s usual animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play equipment and cafe for a single ticket price..
Further afield
Attend a talk at Cirencester History Festival – 26 Oct – 3 Nov
The first ever Cirencester History Festival kicks off this weekend with talks from Janina Ramirez and Max Hastings around town, and family and story writing workshops. Plus, next week more fascinating dives into historical subjects from the likes of Ronald Hutton, Jonathan Dimbleby and Mary-Ann Ochota, alongside cookery workshops, a halloween costume making session, storytelling at Cirencester Library and more.
For a full month of art, music, theatre, literature, film and comedy events, pick up a copy of Stroud’s popular listings magazine, Good on Paper.
