We’re only just over a week from Christmas Day, so it’s time for a Radio-Times-style double issue of the Stroud Times weekly what’s on.
Seasonal events taking place across Stroud and Gloucestershire between now and 29 December include more carol singing than you can shake a yule log art, seasonal markets in the Cornhill, a panto at the Sub Rooms, a magical light trail at the Painswick Rococo Garden and traditional Boxing Days mummers plays in Marshfield and outside Gloucester Cathedral.
Find out more in our regular look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. To suggest an event for inclusion in 2025 use this form.
Regular and one off events
- Carol across the valley in Whiteshill – Mon 16 Dec, 6pm
Whiteshill’s outdoor carol concert is often a highlight of the season for villagers, attracting over a hundred singers in 2023. Mulled wine and mince pies will be available from the village shop from 5:15pm, and singing from 6pm. We are told that in case of bad weather singing will move to the Star, but that would be a shame as it would mean attendees missing the traditional moment when they turn to Ruscombe Valley to sing‘Silent Night’.
- Sing sea shanties at the Shanty Bants Christmas holler – Wed 18 Dec, from 8pm
The Prince Albert’s regular sea shanty singing circle hosts its final sing of the year out in the yard. Wrap up warm and bring your heartiest singing voices at this welcoming and inclusive community event.
- Browse at Stroud Christmas Markets – Wed 18 – Fri 20 Dec, 9am – 4pm
If you do have to go Christmas shopping, then there are few more pleasant places to do so than the Stroud pre-Christmas markets which have taken place each December for the last decade. The markets take place in and around the Cornhill Market and offer the usual wide range of Christmas goodies from local producers and artisans you would expect from Stroud Farmers Market’s Fresh n Local.
- Sing carols in Woodchester with the Nailsworth Silver Band – Thu 19 Dec, from 6:30pm
Nailsworth Silver Band return to Woodchester for the village’s annual multi-destination carol singing opportunity. Singers and band will meet together at Frogmarsh at 6.30pm before walking the candlelit path to North Woodchester, and arriving at the Royal Oak about 7pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served at St Mary’s Church around 7.30pm, and more singing will take place inside.
- Experience Mermaid Chunky’s Darkest Night – Fri 20 Dec, from 7pm at the SVA, 8pm at the Goods Shed
Critically-acclaimed opinion-polarising musical performance art duo and SVA progeny Mermaid Chunky continue to go from strength to strength, and return to the Goods Shed for Darkest Night. This year’s event is their fourth Stroud winter solstice special and promises an acapella parade, live performance art, film installations and a “sexy cleaning clothes” dress code.
- Retreat to the South Woodchester Roundhouse – Sun 22 Dec, 11am – late
The team behind the Roundhouse in South Woodchester throw a day of events to mark the winter solstice. We are told that this will probably include crafting and song, a cacao ceremony, a drum circle and a shared dinner by the fire.
- Spend a Christmas Adventure Day at Raffles Forest School – Mon 23 Dec, from 9:30am
Emma and the team at Raffles Forest School at Owlpen Park near Nympsfield throw a special adventure day for children aged seven to seventeen. Attendees can expect Christmas creative fun using traditional hand tools, natural materials and a lot of imagination to create puppets, animal sculptures, bird boxes and bug houses. Plus plenty of opportunities to roam in the woods.
- Go carol barking in Pitchcombe – Mon 23 Dec. 7pm – 9pm
Every year, local folk stalwart Steve Rowley and a merry band of Pitchcombe villagers keep alive the tradition of ‘carol barking’, roaming around the valley and singing as they go. Their aim is to recreate a rustic carol singing tradition in the style immortalised by Laurie Lee in his celebrated work Cider with Rosie, in which the author sets out with eight friends to sing door-to-door and earn a few pennies for the festive season. Meet at 7pm at the foot of Pitchcombe village hall drive (GL6 6LP) and bring a lantern.
Continuing until January
- See Robin Hood at the Sub Rooms – Sun 20 Dec – Sun 5 Jan, times vary
The Sub Rooms’ annual panto returns for another year, this time bringing to the stage the tale of everyone’s favourite medieval wealth redistributor in a show aiming to bring the story bang up to date for today’s technological times. This year’s show comes from the same team that put together last year’s critically-acclaimed Sub Rooms panto, Snow White & The Seven Dwarves.
- Visit the Enchanted Rococo Garden – Continues until Sat 4 Jan, 4pm – 8ish
Painswick’s Rococo Garden extends its season with a glittery display of lights featuring elements from the night sky and mythical creatures from boggarts to fairies. Visitors will also encounter majestic unicorns and welcoming dragons with glowing breath as they explore the garden and woodland, listening for the wildlife whispering secrets and the gentle babble of the stream.
Further afield
- Watch the Marshfield Paper Boys – Boxing Day, Sun 26 Dec, 11am
Join a cast of characters including Saucy Jacky, Tenpenny Nit, Old Father Beelzebub and Little Man John in the centre of Marshfield in South Gloucestershire for this traditional mummers play which has been performed each Boxing Day for generations. Meet first outside the church for carols with the brass band, and listen out for the town crier and his bell who mark the start of the play.
- Watch the Gloucester City Mummers Play – Boxing Day, Sun 26 Dec, 11am
Those who prefer a big cathedral backdrop to their traditional Boxing Day mummers play should head north and meet outside Gloucester Cathedral. The event kicks off at midday with dancing from various local groups, followed by Gloucestershire Morris’ Gloucester City Mummers Play. The traditional mummers’ play, originally from the Cotswolds, was revived in the 1970s, then again in the late 1990s.
- 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.
