THERE is now less than a week to go until Stroud Goodwill Evening – and the excitement is building.

The lantern-making workshop in the old Eclipse shop in King Street is now open every weekday from 4.30pm to 6pm (except Monday).

Families and shoppers are invited to drop in and make tissue and willow lanterns to carry in the procession which will start the Goodwill Evening next Friday, December 5.

Helpers will be on hand to provide instructions.

Elsewhere, the magnificent Christmas Tree Festival will be taking place in St Laurence Church.

There will be an amazing display of more than 100 Christmas trees decorated by schools, businesses and community and charity groups.

The church will be open throughout Goodwill.

Christmas gift markets at the Cornhill and Sub Rooms are now sold out.

The charity fair in the Merrywalks Centre is filling up fast and will be open until 8pm this year while town centre shops will be open until 9pm for Christmas shopping.

But the party will carry on much later with music and merriment.

At the Sub Rooms, Mr Twitchett’s Bar is hosting Stroud-based Americana guitar band Bob Porter Project, who play country, roots-rock, folk and bluegrass, while the Vic has Bazooka Joe.

Five Valleys favourites Thee Ones are performing at Stroud Valleys Artspace in John Street while The Ale House has the Amazing Steve Ferbrache Ensemble.

A local musician, Steve plays a wide variety of music including stomping blues and classic folk, country and rock covers.

Twisted Fix nightclub in Nelson Street is also taking part in the celebrations and there will be live music at the Greyhound in Gloucester Street.

The theme of this year’s goodwill is fairytales – so expect to bump into some strange characters in town.

There is lots of scope for witches, animals, wolves, Ugly Ducklings, Red Riding Hoods, gingerbread people and Hansel and Gretels.

Look out for the special Goodwill map in next week’s Stroud News & Journal with a list of all the shops taking part in the treasure hunt and window display competition.