It’s the half-term school holidays in Gloucestershire, and Stroud district event organisers are pulling out all the stops to keep young people entertained, with programmes of special events at the Museum in the Park and Brimscombe Mill.
Elsewhere, Dursley celebrates Shrove Tuesday with its annual pancake race, the Stroud Wassail returns at the Museum in the Park on Saturday and the Prince Albert hosts a new evening for local songwriters with an open invite to take to the stage.
Find out more in our regular look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. To suggest an event for inclusion, use this form.
Regular and one off events
- Make at the Museum in the Park – Tue 17 – Fri 20 Feb
Special half term workshops at the Museum in the Park this week offer hands-on opportunities to create animals and moving toys inspired by artist Robert Race, whose exhibition continues in the museum gallery. Come prepared to create toy birds, butterflies & snakes, or make talking peg heads and climbing buddies inspired by Race’s creative ideas.
- Join the Dursley Pancake Race – Tue 17 Feb, 12 noon
Potential participants are invited to grab a frying pan and head to Dursley’s Parsonage Street for the annual Dursley Pancake Race. Fancy dress is actively encouraged, with a coveted trophy on offer for the winners.
- Watch songwriters stage at the Albert – Wed 18 Feb, 7.30pm
In what is set to become a new regular spot, local music producer, bookshop co-runner, and Lo-Hi-Lo frontman Ben Brockett gives local musicians the opportunity to perform their original compositions on stage at the Prince Albert in Rodborough. Performance slots are for two songs, for a maximum of ten minutes, with the aim of showcasing a variety of performers at each event.
- Get creative at Brimscombe Mill – Thu 19 Feb, 10am – 12 noon
Join the Let’s Create team for one of their regular drop-in creative play sessions at Brimscombe Mill, offering calm, unstructured, child-led making for all ages. Come prepared to create as many ideas as you can fit into the two hour session.
- Watch the Stroud Wassail – Sat 21 Feb, 11.30am – 3pm
An event which once brought hordes of Morris dancers to the town centre, the Stroud Wassail was revived last year, now taking place exclusively at the museum. The free event promises dancing, music, singing and beasts, with food and drink available to purchase.
- Swap clothes at Stroud Brewery – Sun 22 Feb, 10am – 1pm
Prepare your spring wardrobe with a clothes swap at Stroud Brewery. Drop off your unwanted outfits and take home some treasures. Maybe even stay for lunch and a pint!
Opening this week
- Take a walk in the woods with Zoe Benbow – Begins Thu 19 Feb
London-based landscape painter Zoe Benbow is known for her artistic explorations of landscape through memory, geology, and time. This exhibition at the CVA John Street Gallery brings together new paintings and drawings of trees and landscapes, many of which were created during a residency at Hosking Houses in Warwickshire.
Further afield
- Get arty at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – Tue 17 – Fri 20 Feb
Choose an artwork from the galleries and create your own version using crayons or collage, with these special half term workshops from the museum and art gallery team. Plus, come and design your own marvellous machine and make a model to take away.
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.
