If we view the festive season as a marathon – as opposed to a sprint – we’re already approaching the mid-section. In this part of the race, the Christmas parties are ramping up to join the fairs, carols and seasonal shopping opportunities.
It all means plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, dance and make merry this week at venues up and down the Five Valleys.
Find out more in our weekly look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. To suggest an event for future inclusion use this form.
Regular and one off events
- Dine at the Crown & Sceptre Curry Lounge – Wed 11 Dec, 6pm
Rodda may have lugged his last barrel up from the cellar at the Hat & Stick, but if their chat with Faye Hatcher is anything to go by, new landlords Rhiannon and Owen are reassuringly committed to not rocking the boat. So come on down to the regular Wednesday Curry Lounge, where Chef Stretch will be offering Murgh Makhani with rice, daal and chapati, with a vegan option available from Erin at Natural Cookery School. Bookings essential.
- Make a wreath at Oakbrook Community Farm – Thu 12 Dec, 6pm-9pm
Head up to Oakbrook Community Farm and let former River Cottage horticulturist and Stroud florist Kate Colwell – aka Fox Lane Flowers – guide you through a step by step seasonal wreath making workshop. Materials and refreshments provided, along with a festive treat on arrival.
- Watch Grace Petrie at the Sub Rooms – Thu 12 Dec, 8pm
Join protest singer and supporter-of-local-causes Grace Petrie for a headline slot at the Sub Rooms, as part of a tour promoting her seventh studio album Build Something Better, produced by Frank Turner. If your idea of a good night out includes powerful songs and political home truths from a songwriter described by the Huffington Post as the “millennial’s Billy Bragg” then this is for you.
- Attend Pebble’s Christmas Extravaganza – Sat 14 Dec, 7:30pm
Future local institution and Stroud Song Contest 2022 winner Pebble Daisy and friends put on their latest special night at the Prince Albert. Expect alt-rock, bubble grunge, dream pop, shoegaze and young people who are cooler than you are playing guitars.
- See what remains of the Winter Wonderland – Sun 15 Dec, from 1pm
Whilst Stroud District Council have sadly cancelled the official part of their Stratford Park Winter Wonderland due to abundance of interest, we are told that some fringe events will still go ahead. So no donkey or marshmallow toasting, but hopefully we can still enjoy storytelling, a family explorer trail and winter woodland craft activities at the Museum in the Park, a ride on the miniature railway and brass band music from Cinderford Band & Academy Band.
- Watch the Follow the Star nativity play at the Albert – Sun 15 Dec, 3pm
Robbie Humphries – aka Mr Robbie – and friends return to the Prince Albert for their annual performance of Follow the Star, a musical play that tells the age-old Christmas nativity story. The play follows your regular December opportunity to sing with the Prince Albert Carol Consort, who sing their unusual carols from 12:30pm.
Continuing this week
- Join the Harmony Tree Afternoon Folk Choir – Regular, Tue 3.45pm – 5.15pm
The new group from Stroud Folk Choir’s Pearl Legay-Clarke promises an intergenerational alternative singing opportunity to learn traditional and contemporary folk songs in three and four-part harmony. Held at St Laurence Hall, off the Shambles, with singing open to everyone aged 5+.
Further afield
- Watch the Gloucester Christmas Tractor Run – Sun 15 Dec, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Those who love both tractors and Christmas are in for a treat this Sunday evening as a seasonally-decorated parade of agricultural machinery departs from the Rose and Crown at Redmarley at 4:30pm. The vehicles will be heading for St Oswald’s in Gloucester, where they expect to arrive some time after 7pm. Those who dislike tractors should probably make other plans.
- 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.
