STROUD will go truly wild to herald the start of the festive season with a celebration of nature, beasts and people.

This year’s annual late night shopping extravaganza is on Friday, December 6 with a theme of WILD; nature, beasts, people.

One of the main features of the evening is the procession, which will feature an array of lanterns made in schools and at workshops.

Schools which have made lanterns this year include Randwick, the Rosary, Rodborough, Christ Church at Chalford, Cranham, Sheepscombe and Park Junior in Stonehouse.

Santa plus a giant lantern made by artist Herewood Gabriel will lead the procession around town with ceilidh dancers, Stroud Red Band, Frantix the Clown and the Rinky Dink cycle powered soundsystem which is returning after a revamp.

The procession will wind around the town (see map) and finish outside St Laurence Church.

Sub Rooms switch-on

Gather at the Sub Rooms for 6pm and witness a special light switch-on with snow, panto special guests and Father Christmas. The procession will head off from there, so gather here.

Evening entertainment on the forecourt includes Jazz Friday and Shine On Stage and there will be a live broadcast from the Subs by BBC Radio Gloucestershire from 5pm to 7pm. Mr Twitchet’s café will be open throughout.

 

On the night

Attractions around town on the night include:

The Christmas Tree Festival at St Laurence Church

Coneley’s Fun Fair at Fawkes Place

Christmas market at the Cornhill Square featuring wonderful gifts and victuals with the market café, mulled wine and cider, Funky Falafel, Niang’s Thai snacks, Adey’s Organic burgers and Hinton Marsh hog roast.

Carol concert by Stroud Methodist Church Band outside Cornhill from 6pm

Carol singing by Oakridge Primary School at 5.30pm by Moonflower.

Evening market at the Shambles (including an indoor market) featuring the Mini Red Bus Bar, a two metre Earth Cube light sculpture by Stroudwater Lights and lots of great stalls.

Santa’s grotto in Five Valleys Shopping Centre with Elsa from Frozen!

There will the chance of a photo with Elsa from 4pm to 6pm at the grotto.

Buskers and street entertainments.

The great annual window dressing competition on this year’s theme of WILD; nature, beasts, people will feature some excellent windows from traders.

Special offers

Many shops will be staying open late and there will be special Goodwill offers (better than Black Friday!) at many of them.

Organisers are publishing a full list on the Stroud Goodwill Evening Facebook page.

Examples are 20 per cent discount at Cornflower and Calico (9am-9pm) and 25 per cent off at Brilliant Disguise plus mulled wine and treats at many shops.

Treasure hunt

This year’s treasure hunt will feature the Sleeping Fox picture below placed in the window display of those shops taking part.

Hunt through the town to find as many shops with the fox in the window.

Make a list and drop it off with your name and phone number to Mr Twitchet’s café at the Sub Rooms to be in with a chance of winning tickets to the Sub Rooms pantomime for all the family.

Information

Follow Stroud Goodwill Evening on Facebook or Instagram #stroudgoodwill2019

First aid point: the Sub Rooms

Thank you

A special thanks to Stroud Town Council for sponsoring the event and to those shops who have contributed to the costs of the evening plus special thanks to the Warehouse nightclub whose donation paid for Frantix the Clown to attend.

Also a big thank you to Rachel Pegler for once again designing the Goodwill posters and map.