Autumn may be replacing the summer festival season, but there is still plenty happening in Stroud and across the wider district between Monday 28 September and Sunday 4 October 2026. The week’s programme includes discussions about community ownership, an indoor festival at two Stroud venues, a one-night wine bar, live reggae, a school fair, a family charity run and a new exhibition in Nailsworth.
Several of the events focus on community participation. Residents can discuss the future of Ruscombe Woods, while the Festival of Commoning will explore ideas around sharing, sustainability and community ownership. Families can also choose between the Bisley autumn fair and the Rotary Rainbow Run in Stonehouse.
Community events in Stroud
Discuss community ownership for Ruscombe Woods — Monday 28 September, 6pm. Local residents are being invited to a community meeting after more than 20 acres of Ruscombe woodland and pasture went up for sale. Residents have made a speculative offer based on the woodland being sold on to the local community, and the meeting will consider the next stage of that plan.
Festival of Commoning — Friday 2 to Saturday 3 October. Stroud’s Festival of Commoning returns for a weekend of talks, workshops, participatory projects and community-led demonstrations. This year’s programme is centred on community ownership and includes contributions from the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society, the Long Table, Paganhill Community Centre and Climbing Commons, as well as stories from further afield. The festival takes place at St Laurence Church and Lansdown Hall.
Stroud Wine Company pop-up bar — Friday 2 October, 6pm. The company’s Withey’s Yard store will become a wine bar for a special late opening. Visitors can ask the team for bottle recommendations and try a selection of wines by the glass.
Holy Water reggae garden — Friday 2 October, 6pm. DJ Juggla’s Reggae Garden returns to Holy Water, with music from Juggla and Daddy G. Food will be provided by Ann Marie from St Anns on Jamaica’s northern coast, including curry goat and vegan choices.
Family activities and fundraising
Bisley Autumn Fair — Saturday 3 October, from noon. Bisley Blue Coat School’s Parent Teacher Association is holding an autumn fair with games, a tombola, a toy stall, face painting and a tabletop treasure hunt. The afternoon will also feature inflatables, tea and cake, plus a dog show.
Rotary Rainbow Run — Sunday 4 October, 1pm to 4pm. Stonehouse and Stroud Rotary are staging a colourful charity running event at Oldends Lane in Stonehouse. Inspired by the Hindu spring festival of Holi, participants in rainbow runs wear white and are showered with coloured powder paint along the route. The event is raising money for Sunflowers Suicide Support and will also include a barbecue, ice cream and stalls.
Exhibition and events beyond Stroud
Sense of Place at Three Storeys, Nailsworth — Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 4 October. Minchinhampton artist Gemma Pitman is returning to Three Storeys for her third solo show. The exhibition features mixed-media work inspired by local places and wildlife, including Stroud’s commons, open spaces, ancient paths, woodlands and other elements of the landscape. Works range from small hand-painted collages to larger paintings.
For those willing to travel further, the Church of St John Baptist in Cirencester will host its first beer festival from Friday 2 to Saturday 3 October, running from noon to 10pm. Cirencester Parish and Cirencester & District Round Table are organising the event, which promises a selection of beers and ciders, live music and access to nearby town-centre food options.
The events listed cover both regular and one-off activities in Stroud and the wider district. Organisers who want a community event considered for inclusion in the weekly guide can follow the submission information provided by Stroud Times.