CREATIVE organisers of Stroud’s Christmas Goodwill Evening are offering people the chance to be involved.

Goodwill, which is held annually on the first Friday of December, sees a sparkling procession parading through town carrying lanterns.

Last year the carnival saw Morris dancers decked in red ribbons and twinkling tinsel. Shop traders embraced the space theme and played host to aliens, rockets, planets, stars and even the odd meteor shower.

Visitors were able to indulge in a bit of late night shopping with mulled wine and street food on offer with choirs adding to the festive spirit.

This year Stroud Goodwill’s four dedicated volunteers, Lis Parker, Stroud Farmers' Market organiser Gerb Gerbrands, the Subscription Rooms general manager Paul McLaughlin and business support officer Bev Tanner, are hoping to make the evening bigger and better than ever before.

They are on the lookout for businesses who want to contribute financially or with their time.

Stroud Town Council puts £1,000 towards the evening and Stroud’s traders also contribute. The grant helps cover the basic costs of putting the event on as well as allowing the team to pay artists to go into schools and help students make lanterns for the procession – the focal point of the evening.

With a little more funding they could improve the variety of entertainments on offer on the night.

Commenting on the evening Lis said: “We want it to have a wow factor, for it to be a creative event.

“I think it’s about helping businesses to see that it is a good thing for the town and a lot of people are involved and if businesses want to get involved its great advertising for them.”

Paul said: “There is a perception that it is a council event, it’s not. It’s a community led event.”

But it’s not just funds that are needed, the team are also on the hunt for creative volunteers. They would like to see a Santa’s Grotto in the Subscription Rooms and they are considering setting up a couple of internships for young people to get some event organising, marketing and administration experience.

They are also collaborating with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to give young people the opportunity to go into school to assists artists in workshop sessions making lanterns.

If anyone wants to contribute or be involved contact Gerb markets@fresh-n-local.co.uk

Follow the Goodwill Evening Facebook page here: facebook.com/StroudGoodwillEvening