December is upon us this week, and the floodgates are open for seasonal events up and down the Five Valleys.
There’s just no escaping the mulled wine and decorated undercover conifers at every turn. Expect plentiful chances to sing carols and make merry, whether you like it or not.
All this means that there are absolutely loads of things to see and in Stroud and the surrounding area this week, including Stroud Goodwill, Jolly Nice Winter Wonderland and the return of the Dog Tree on Rodborough Common.
Find out more in our weekly look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. You can also now suggest future events to be included using this form.
Regular and one off events
- Go skating at Jolly Nice – Until 5 Jan, timings vary
The team at Jolly Nice roll out their seasonal skating experience for another year, this time using a new synthetic ice rink. The rink forms part of their Winter Wonderland events which include their annual Christmas tree forest, a decorations sale and a chance to meet Father Christmas and his reindeer on weekends, and in the run up to Christmas Eve.
- Buy art to support the Sub Rooms – Tue 3 – Sat 7 Dec, 10am – 4pm
The Sub Rooms’ second annual Little Art Exhibition sees artworks donated by artists from the Stroud area and beyond sold in order to raise funds to support the important work of this town centre arts and performance hub. If you can’t make it during the daytime don’t worry, a special late night opening takes place for Stroud Goodwill on Fri 6 December.
- Attend Stroud Goodwill – Fri 6 Dec (from 4pm) and Sat 7 Dec (from 8am)
Join the people of Stroud for probably the most festive night of the year in the town centre, with music, special events, a parade, food and drink and more across a range of venues including St Laurence’s, the Shambles, the Sub Rooms, the Cornhill, Kendrick Street and the Five Valleys Shopping Centre. New for this year, the festivities continue into what has been dubbed ‘Goodwill Saturday’, with events running around town alongside the Farmers Market including the funfair in Fawkes Place, music on the Sub Rooms forecourt and the St Laurence’s Christmas Tree Festival.
- Dance at Fitty Gomash’s Christmas Ceilidh – Fri 6 Dec, from 7:30pm
After more than 15 years of successful Christmas dances in Bristol, eight-piece folk band Fitty Gomash are branching out with a seasonal ceilidh at Lansdown Hall. Expect rowdy carols around the piano, followed by dancing to pumping Irish, Scots and contemporary folk tunes, in what is sure to be a fun evening.
- Take a Santa Cruise on the Stroudwater Canal – Sat 7 – Sun 22 Dec, weekends only
Join the Cotswold Canal Trust team for their much loved annual boat trips with Father Christmas, departing from Wallbridge Lock in Stroud. Cruises take place every weekend throughout December and take approximately 20 minutes.
- See Sheelanagig at the Prince Albert – Sun 8 Dec, 7:30pm
Always one of the most reliable nights out of the festive period in Stroud, folk stalwarts Sheelanagig bring down the curtain on yet another autumn and winter tour at the Prince Albert. Expect high octane foot-stomping european folk music from fiddle virtuoso Aaron Catlow and the team, and energetic support from the Bristol’s own the Schmoozenbergs.
Continuing this week
- Walk to the Dog Tree – Until 2025
Each year, the Dog Tree on Rodborough Common is decorated as if by magic, in order to remember doggies (and cats) who enjoyed walking the common but are no longer with us. Behind the scenes, of course, it also involves a considerable effort by a merry band of volunteers, in order to raise funds for Teckels Animal Sanctuary.
Further afield
- Enjoy Carols on the Hour at Gloucester Cathedral – Sat 7 Dec, 11am – 3.30pm
For those for whom one carol service a day is not enough, Gloucester Cathedral lays on 30 minutes of Christmas carols on the hour, every hour from 11am and 3:30pm. Expect seasonal songs from Cathedral Junior Choir at 11am, Cathedral Middle Choir at noon, Cathedral Youth Choir at 1pm, the boy choristers at 2pm and the Caring Chorus Choir at 3pm.
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.
