FREE car parking for Christmas shopping is being provided by Stroud District Council on Saturday December 20 in all of the town centre car parks: Cheapside, London Road multi-storey and long-stay parks, Church Street, Parliament Street and Rowcroft car parks.

Take time out to visit the Kendrick Street Gallery, where you can vote for your favourite Stroud pictures by adults and young people, right up to Christmas Eve. It is well worth the climb up to the attic to see a wonderful variety of art produced by local people who obviously feel ‘Proud to be Stroud’. Get the free badge too, and wear it.

Stroud Music Club’s Christmas concert is on Thursday, December 18 in the Sub Rooms at 2.30pm. The programme includes the Gannicox Ensemble playing orchestral instruments and handbells, the Wynstones Sunday choir and Jonathan Trim playing his violin. At the end of the concert, the audience can join in singing Christmas carols. Admission costs £5 which includes refreshments. Space for wheelchairs need to be booked beforehand on 01453 760900.

Stroud’s sea, army and air cadets hold a carol service in St Laurence at 7.30pm on Thursday December 18. Others welcome for this festive candlelight celebration.

Following the success of their Hamlet, Tongues of Fire Youth Theatre present Macbeth at The Space, Lansdown, Stroud. Performances at 7pm on Friday December 19, 2.30pm and 7pm on Saturday December 20 and 2.30pm on Sunday December 21. Tickets £7 on the door.

Stroud College Foundation Degree artists present an exhibition of their work in various styles and media at The Space, Lansdown, Stroud, from Saturday December 20 to Wednesday December 31 (closed December 25 and 26), from 10am to 4pm daily.

Johnny Coppin and friends present All on a Winter’s Night in the Sub Rooms on Saturday December 20 at 7.30pm. Special guests include members of Decameron and Circle of Song. Martin Fry provides seasonal images. Tickets on 01453 760900.

Celebrate the winter solstice and the return of longer days on Sunday December 21 with Stroud Valleys Project. They have arranged a brisk walk to Swifts Hill in the Slad Valley, starting from Summer Crescent Park at 10am, returning by 1pm (five miles total, book with Ivi on 01453 753358). Walking boots and waterproofs suggested.

Chalford Band holds its annual Christmas concert under its musical director Steve Tubb in Stroud Subscription Rooms on Sunday December 21 at 7.30pm (tickets on 01453 760900).

A Christmas concert of festive music will be held in All Saints Church, Uplands, on Monday December 22 at 7.30pm with All Saints Choir and Archway Wind Band. Tickets £5 on the door, proceeds divided between Bala Orphanage, Kenya, and church and band funds.

Stroud Library, which has been closed for two weeks for major refurbishments including a new lift, re-opens on Monday December 22 with normal opening hours, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Saturday December 27 and New Year’s Day, when it will be closed.

There will be an extra farmers’ market on Tuesday December 23 from 9am to 2pm in Cornhill Market, with stalls stocking local foods and crafts, everything you need for last minute Christmas purchases and gifts. The Threadneedle Market will also be open with a variety of antiques and collectables.

Stroud Town Council offices close at 1.30pm on Christmas Eve, re-opening on Monday January 5 at 10am. Stroud District Council at Ebley Mill closes at 5pm on Christmas Eve, re-opening on Monday January 5 at 8.45am.

Stax of Trax presents its Christmas Dance Party in the Sub Rooms on Saturday December 27 at 8.30pm. It features dance music classics from the 70s to the 90s with a DJ battle-off. Book your tickets on 01453 760900.

Stroud Museum is closed throughout December, re-opening on New Year’s Day from 11am to 4pm. A new exhibition, Seeing Dragons in the Clouds, runs until February 22, with work by eight artists exploring the magical in the everyday, and hands-on activities for children and families. Take a photograph of skies and clouds yourself and add it to the collection of skyscapes. At 2pm, meet in the museum courtyard for a gentle walk around the park, followed by a glass of mulled wine.

Stroud Local History Society celebrated Christmas with a party in the festively decorated Old Town Hall on December 9. A quiz compiled by Bryan Small gave two fields to excel in, local history and quotations by famous people. (Can you remember all the place-names on Tom Long’s Post?) After sherry and delicious mince pies, members enjoyed some nostalgic songs delightfully sung by Enid Walklett accompanied by Jean Lea, and seasonal readings by chairman Sue Harrison. The evening ended with carols. Programmes were given out for 2009, when meetings will take place in St Laurence church hall. The first meeting is on Thursday January 22 at 7.30pm, when Howard Beard will show slides from the Edwardian era of people of the Stroud valleys.

Booking is now taking place in Stroud Tourist Information (01453 760900) for the Cotswold Players’ family musical version of Francis Hodgson-Burnett’s The Secret Garden. It runs at the Cotswold Playhouse from January 14-17 and 21-24, with matinees on January 16, 17 and 25.

Stroud Horticultural Society held a well-attended Christmas party last Wednesday with a beetle drive and a plant quiz compiled by Eric Jarrett, followed by supper. Members were all given a Christmas card with an entry to the raffle. The first meeting of the new year is on Wednesday January 21 when David Kaspar talks about apple growing and cider making. It will be followed by the AGM on February 18.

As this is my last Around Town column, I would like to thank all readers over the years and especially the contributors, without whom it would never have been written. A very happy Christmas to you all, and best wishes for the future to the local groups and organisations which make Stroud such a friendly and lively town.

* Anyone who wishes to take over this column should contact Sue Smith on 01453 769411.