What’s on in Stroud this week: 13 – 19 April
With local schools returning from the Easter holidays, lighter evenings and tulips already appearing in the gardens, spring is now firmly upon us. Bluebells are already beginning to blanket woods and hillsides and Boss Morris’ Finger in the Spring ritual returns to Rodborough this weekend.
Elsewhere this week, Teckels hosts a community fair and dog show in King’s Stanley, Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative throws a print fair at the Museum in the Park and the Long Table invites us for an evening of percussion, including a chance to try African drumming.
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
- See Nick Hart and Tom Moore at the Albert – Mon 13 Apr, 7pm
Award-winning Bristol folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Hart and Norfolk fiddler and viola player Tom Moore arrive at Rodborough’s Prince Albert as part of a spring tour of English venues including songs and tunes from their 2023 album The Colour of Amber. The album is the culmination of more than a decade of musical collaboration and features cover artwork by Stroud-based folk artist Alex Merry.
- Visit the GPC Spring Print Fair – Sat 18 – Sun 19 Apr, 11am – 4pm
To coincide with their ongoing exhibition at the Museum in the Park, the Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative have organised a special Spring Print Fair featuring work from more than 20 different stallholders. The event will also feature a pop up plant sale from Exedra Nursery, and food and drink from guest vendors Velo Bakery and Shadow & Steam.
- Put your finger in the spring in Rodborough Fields – Sat 18 Apr, 11am
Local Morris dancers Boss Morris bring their spring ritual to Rodborough Fields for the first time, marking the site coming into community ownership. Last month, Rodborough Fields and Frome Banks Preservation Group announced they had completed a community purchase of the treasured meadow and woodland, and this Saturday Boss Morris and friends invite us to meet at Wallbridge Green at 11am for a procession through the fields.
- Eat moules frites at the Wine Barn – Sat 18 Apr, 7pm
Vinotopia’s Nailsworth Wine Barn hosts a special French bistro night with moules frites cooked by Wesley Birch’s Birch Catering. Alongside the food, guests can expect a glass of Gustave Lorentz Crémant d’Alsace Brut on arrival, a Piquepoul Rosé with the main course and a classic French lemon tart for pudding.
- Celebrate percussion at the Long Table – Sat 18 Apr, 7pm
The Long Table hosts a special night of live percussion from Gloucester-based African drumming group Gantigan and Stroud’s own Simbora Samba. The evening begins with an open djembe drum workshop, before a Brazilian samba performance from Simbora and a headline show from Gangitan.
- Attend the Teckels Spring Fair and Dog Show – Sun 19 Apr, 11am – 3pm
Teckels Animal Sanctuary takes over the Rest cafe in King’s Stanley for one day only for a special community event featuring stalls, games and refreshments. Plus a Fun Dog Show for all your furry friends and a raffle in aid of Teckels’ centre in Whitminster.
Continuing this week
- See the bluebells on Cam Peak – Ongoing
There are many great spots to witness the first of the bluebells of spring, but few rival Cam Peak and Cam Longdown, on the outskirts of Dursley. Though bluebell season generally peaks in early May, this year there seems to be a good showing across the Stroud district, and time is of the essence as they won’t be around for long.
Further afield
- Enjoy Gloucester History Festival’s Spring Weekend – Fri 17 – Sun 19 Apr
Gloucester’s celebrated history festival hosts a special spring weekend of history talks, with around fifty of Britain’s leading historians, actors and broadcasters across thirty events in the medieval Blackfriars Priory. Speakers include classicist Mary Beard, art historian Bendor Grosvenor and Gloucestershire poet Pam Ayres.
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.
