Friday 5th December 2008, 4pm until 9pm

Come and join the procession of light - this year Goodwill Evening in Stroud takes a new direction, with a cultural, family-themed evening of magical mid-winter pagaentry.

Street entertainers will perform around town, along with carol singers & choirs, acoustic musicians,jugglers and entertainers.

There will be carousels for young children in King Street, Threadneedle Street and Bedford Street.

The all new "Gdwll Scene" will happen in Fawkes Place, catering for teenagers, with loads to take part in and plenty to see.

Riffs and the Stroud News & Journal will host a stage for local talent at the Market Tavern in Swan Lane and there will be stalls on the streets, while the shop-keepers of Stroud extend a warm welcome to you during this evening of winter revelry with some offering special offers, mince pies and drinks.

Local charities, organisations, PTAs and pre-schools will have stalls in Merrywalks.

Read on for more information about;

• 6.00 pm -The grand switching on of the Christmas lights on the Sub Rooms Forecourt by Father Christmas followed by a Venetian-style masked lantern-lit procession around Stroud - all welcome to join.
• Join in the family treasure trail around the following shop windows;
  • Antics
  • Made in Stroud Shop
  • Wilkinsons
  • Sahara
  • Crazy Daisy
  • Heritage in Stroud
  • Moonflower
  • Confection Affection
  • Kendrick Street Deli
  • Kendrick Street Gallery
  • Sue Ryder Shop
  • Stroud Book Shop
  • The Children's Book Shop
  • Toggs Leisure in Lansdown
  Take part in the treasure trail competition - details in the Wednesday 3rd December edition of the Stroud News and Journal.
• Traditional Christmas Market at the Cornhill run by Made in Stroud
• The ALL NEW Fawkes Place Gdwll Scene with Rinky Dink, fire show, drumming, rapping, graffitti wall etc.
• Magic is about as Smartworks becomes a dragon’s den. Open to anyone in Stroud with learning disabilities, and to family and friends who’d like to join in.  The Magic Bean Company at Smartworks until 9 pm. 
• The 8th anniversary party at the Made in Stroud Shop
• "Dumb Flicks" at the top of the High Street
• "Stroud's Got Talent" stage at Riffs - have you got the "S" Factor?
• Christmas Indulgence Fair in the Sub Rooms Ballroom
• Jazz Jive Party at The Shambles Market in Stroud
• " Space Live" an new event run by young people for young people at the Space in Lansdown, Stroud. Click here for more information, or to take part if you are between 16 and 25.
• Christmas Tree Festival - St. Laurence's Church, Stroud
• The Mills Cafe Choir performing in Mills Cafe, Whithey's Yard, off the High Street - the perfect place to relax and get away from it all.
• Special Supper at Woodruff's with live band on the High Street.
• "Make it in Stroud" on the High Street - come and join the founders of Stroud's new Land School and make Christmas presents with your young children or buy kits to make at home. Hot soup and punch will be available. Story telling upstairs for children, wreath making downstairs for grown ups, homade chutney and Christmas decorations on sale. Raffle. Details from Bonnie on 01453 835901.
• Cafe-Bar open at the Sub Rooms
• Connexions in the High Street is offering support for parents with teenagers and hot chocolate & mince pies.
• Assured Mobility in Union St. are staying open with a warm welcome & mince pies for customers.
• Eclipse in King Street will be opening for fairly traded, well funky clothing, footwear and accessories.
• Antics in the High Street will be open.
• Sahara in the High Street will be open
• Wilkinsons will be open
• Heritage in Stroud will be open
• Dorothy Perkins will be open
• John Street Baptist Church (near the Cornhill Market) will have carol singing on the forecourt and members of the church will be serving coffee, tea, squash and mince pies during the evening.
• Stroud Book Shop and The Children's Book Shop will be running competitons to win books - more details soon.
• More events, a map of the procession route, and details of the time-table for carol singers, choirs and entertainers will be available soon.

Procession - Starting 6 pm on the Sub Rooms forecourt.

A masked Venetian-style lantern-lit procession will meet for the switching on of the Christmas lights at 6.00 pm on the Subscription Rooms Forecourt. The procession will then weave its way around town, led by Father Christmas, who will this year be on foot, accompanied by his pony Mirabelle. Everyone is welcome to join in the procession, which will include carol singers, the Smartworks dragon, acoustic medieval musicians and local theatre groups, school groups, youth groups, and families.

Masks and lantern-making kits will be available from Stroud Farmers' market on Saturday 22nd and 29th November and from The Made in Stroud Shop from 22nd November. Time to get creative, dress up in velvet cloaks made from a pair of old curtains, don your mask, and join the parade. Come along and join in this magical family event, co-ordinated by Stroud community artist Lis Parker.

Contact Lis Parker on 07754059768

Traditional Christmas Market at the Cornhill - 4 pm to 9 pm.

Now in it's 8th year, this popular atmospheric mid-winter gift market includes stallholders from the award-winning farmers' market, local artists and makers, fairly traded gifts from around the globe,the market cafe, the organic burger stall, Selsley Herb & Spice Mulled Wine and more. Lit by twinkling fairy lights and to the sound of choirs singing traditional and international songs, and local musicians playing harp and stringed instruments. Look out for the Stroud mummers who will be wandering in to perform their traditional Cotswold Christmas mummers' play.

Contact Clare at Made in Stroud on 01453 758060 or 07946473359

Fawkes Place Gdwll Scene - 4pm to 9pm

Come and join Gerb and his posse at Fawkes Place for an evening of happenings including the world-famous Rinky Dink cycle powered sound system, African drumming from Jim Cheseldine and friends, a fire show; the climbing wall; graffiti wall; the Decimal skate team with sounds from Chalk MC, Short Stuff et al, the official Goodwill Evening glow stick stall, soft drinks bar and good company. Contact Gerb on 07813 943 237

Dumb Flicks from InPrint in the High Street

The return of this popular Goodwill staple will be brought to you by the organisers of Stroud Photography Festival and our famous Stroud Poets, in conjunction with InPrint in the High Street. Along with poetry readings and stills of the area, silent black and white movies will entertain from the Cotswold stone walls of the traditional High Street. Not to be missed.

Contact Richard Austin (Poets)

Carlos Ordonez and Fred Chance (flicks) info@stroudphotofestival.co.uk

Stroud's Got Talent Stage at the Market Tavern supported by Riffs and Stroud News & Journal

Have you got the "S" Factor? Come along and enter your local mid-winter talent competition at Stroud's leading destination for music lovers, in The Market Tavern. Everyone welcome to join the audience and support the hopeful acts.

Contact Stef at Riffs on 01453 764395

Christmas Indulgence Fair in the Sub Rooms Ballroom - 4 pm to 9pm.

Pamper yourself and your friends with all kinds of Christmas goodies - have a treatment or makeover, browse through beauty products, treat yourself to chocolates and unusual gifts, have a warming glass of mulled wine and escape the Christmas bustle for an hour or two. The basement cafe bar at the Subs will also will be open for the evening.

Contact Bairbre McAteer on 01453 760991

Jazz Jive Party at The Shambles Market in Stroud

Alongside regular stallholders at this popular twice-weekly market, there will be special Christmas gift stalls, mulled wine and a Jazz Jive Swing dance party hosted by James and Bridget of Stroud's fabulous Jazz Jive Swing

Contact Ken Stevens for stalls on 01453 884320

James and Bridget for Jazz Jive Swing on 01452 770701

The Magic Bean Company at Smartworks until 9 pm. 

Open to anyone in Stroud with learning disabilities, and to family and friends who’d like to join in.  Magic is about as Smartworks becomes a dragon’s den.  Open for members at 5 pm to get involved in the preparations and make things.  At 5.45 pm the illuminated dragon will leave Smartworks and snake its way towards the centre of town accompanied by participants in masks and carrying lanterns who will join the procession leaving the Sub Rooms Forecourt at 6 pm.  Back at Smartworks after the procession, come and keep warm and have fun.  From 7 pm to 9 pm there will be a Dragon disco with DJ and member Carl Davis.  From 8 pm a Dragons Hot Supper will be served for members and friends including mince pies, hot punch, spicy burgers, sausage rolls.  A Christmas pudding will be lit during the evening to add to the excitement.  Contact David and Liz Wade on 01285 821241

Christmas Tree Festival - St. Laurence's Church, Stroud

A peaceful oasis in the Shambles, come along and visit the church and see the Christmas trees decorated by various community and church groups from the 5 valleys.

Contact; thelamberts@tesco.net

Supper at Woodruff's

Woodruff's, the UK's original and first totally organic cafe, will be opening for a special Goodwill Evening meal and putting on live music on the High Street.

Contact Holly on 01453 759195

Face Painting at Kendrick Street Gallery

Come along to Kendrick Street Gallery, have your face painted while your parents enter our Open Art Competition for the Meningitis Trust. The theme this year is "Stroud".

Connexions in the High Street

Are you helping a teenager make plans for their future? Are you helping them cope with other issues? Call in at our Information Shop Open Evening for hot chocolate and mince pies until 7 pm. Call in and talk to an advisor or just browse our Information Shop.

More events, a map of the procession route, and details of the time-table for carol singers, choirs and entertainers will be available soon.

Supported by; Stroud Town Council, Stroud District Council, Stroud News & Journal, Made in Stroud, Riffs, Artful, (Lis Parker) Moonflower & Moonflower Too, , Stroud Life, The Shambles Market, James & Owen, Kendrick St. Gallery, The Design Co-op, The Space, The Subscription Rooms, Mills Cafe, Connexions, Dorothy Perkins, Woodruffs, Assured Mobility, Eclipse, Bateman's, Inprint, Antics, Pashion, Kendrick Street Deli, The Retreat, Sahara, Hania Cheese, Stroud Book Shop, The Children's Book Shop, Costa Coffee, Toggs Leisure in Lansdown, Crazy Daisy, Rob Pearson, Cotswold Players, Captain Spanner, StroudSong, Circle of Song, John Street Baptist Church, Stroud Woodcraft Folk, St Roses School, Stroud Valley Community School & many volunteers, singers, performers, arts groups & community groups from Stroud.