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Families are invited to make the most of summer in Stratford Park as Stroud District Council launches a packed programme of Big Summer Picnics and Play in the Park events throughout August.

Taking place on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August from 10am to 4pm, the free community events will transform Stratford Park into a hub of activity, with sports, games, crafts, museum activities and family-friendly fun for all ages. Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic, meet friends, try something new and enjoy one of the district's most popular parks.

Each event will feature a wide range of free activities, including arts and crafts, multi-sports sessions, tennis, family yoga, garden games, badminton, table tennis, pickleball, explorer trails and activities from Museum in the Park. Families can also enjoy World Jungle activities, football taster sessions with Little Kickers and a variety of interactive stalls run by local businesses and charities.

Special attractions across the month include live music from Sadie Sings, fire engine visits, mini train rides, roller skating, a Silly Science workshop, soft play, a bouncy castle and free skateboard taster sessions with Friends of Stroud Skate Park. Water-based fun including slip and slides and paddling pools will also feature on selected dates.

Alongside the free programme, a range of low-cost activities will be available, including mini golf, surf simulators, bubble football, climbing walls, face painting, inflatable attractions and pool fun sessions at Active Lifestyles Stroud. A variety of food vendors, cafés and ice cream stalls will be on site throughout the month.

Angela Gillingham, Stroud District Council’s Head of Community Services said

"Stratford Park is one of the district's most loved green spaces and these events are a fantastic opportunity for families and communities to come together during the summer holidays. Whether you're looking to get active, enjoy live entertainment, explore local heritage or simply relax with a picnic, there will be something for everyone."

The Big Summer Picnics and Play in the Park events are just part of a packed summer programme in Stratford Park.

Visitors can also enjoy free multi-sports sessions every Monday from 2pm to 4pm for young people aged 9 to 16, weekly Music in the Park concerts every Sunday, and the wide-ranging summer programme at the Museum in the Park.

The museum is hosting family explorer trails, drop-in activities, workshops, outdoor theatre performances of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and a new exhibition, Park Life, created by members of the Stroud Artists Cooperative and inspired by the district's parks and open spaces.

Active Lifestyles Stroud is also running a programme of family activities throughout the summer, including roller skating, trampolining, dance workshops, bubble football and pool fun sessions. Its Summer Passport offers unlimited swimming, inflatable fun, gym access and fitness classes for eligible ages, alongside discounted activities.

With 56 acres to explore, Stratford Park offers plenty to enjoy beyond the organised events, including woodland walks, an arboretum, a lake, sensory gardens, children's play areas, tennis courts and large open spaces.

Visitors can download the free Discover Stroud District walking app and follow a trail and nature treasure hunt in Stratford Park.

The Stratford Park Lido is due to reopen on 15 August, while the weekly parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am. The popular miniature railway also runs on the last Sunday of every month.

A large free car park is available, although visitors are encouraged to consider travelling by bus where possible. Children can travel free on participating local bus services throughout August, with routes serving Stroud taking part in the scheme.

August is shaping up to be a busy month, with a few important updates to keep in mind.

If you use the household waste and recycling centre (HWRC) in Hempsted, Gloucester, please note that it will be closed from 13 August for essential repairs and improvements. The site is expected to reopen in mid-November. As a result, the HWRC at Pyke Quarry, near Horsley, may be busier than usual over the coming months. All visits to Gloucestershire County Council’s recycling centres must be booked online in advance, so it's worth planning ahead before you travel.

There's also plenty to enjoy over the summer holidays. We're launching a series of free family activities in Stratford Park from 10am-4pm every Friday throughout August, starting on 7 August. It's a great chance for families to get outside, try something new and make the most of the park this summer.

Have you had your say yet? Several council consultations are now nearing their closing dates, including the Play Strategy, Local Plan and Community Governance Review. These consultations help shape important decisions about the future of the district, so don't miss your chance to get involved 

If you live in the Kingswood ward there will be a by-election taking place on 2 September. During the election period, councillors will not be featured in council photographs, press releases or other publicity materials, in line with pre-election guidance.

Finally, if you'd like to keep up to date with council news, events, service updates and other local information, why not sign up for our weekly email bulletin? It lands in subscribers' inboxes every Friday and is a simple way to stay informed about what's happening across the district. Sign up here. 

If you're looking for things to do in the Stroud district this August, there's plenty on offer. From family activities and open gardens to theatre, live music, exhibitions and festivals, there are events taking place across the district throughout the month.

Regular events throughout August

• Daily drop-in children's activities, Brimscombe Mill
• 5k parkruns every Saturday morning in Stroud, Stonehouse, Berkeley and Wotton
• 2k Junior parkruns every Sunday in Stonehouse and Wotton
• Shambles Market, Stroud, every Friday and Saturday
• Stroud Farmers' Market, every Saturday
• Baptist Hall Craft Market, second and fourth Saturdays
• Vintage Mary Market, every Monday, The Shambles, Stroud
• Late Night Food at Five Valleys Shopping Centre, every Friday
• Music in the Park every Sunday, Stratford Park
• Stroud Brewery Run Club, Mondays
• Brimscombe Mill Run Club, Thursdays
• Food & live music at the Long Table, Fridays
• Woodchester Mansion open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm
• Wotton Town Hall Teas every Saturday
• CCT Boat Trips, Wallbridge, Saturdays
• Gigg Mill & Dunkirk Mill Open Day Saturdays and Sundays
• Summer Gnome Trail, Rococo Garden, Painswick
• FREE Family Explorer Trails, Museum in the Park
• Ruskin Mill College Students End of Year Exhibition
• Guided walks with the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens
• Giffords Circus: Waterfall, Minchinhampton Common (until 10 August)
• Park Life exhibition by Stroud Artists' Co-operative, throughout August, Museum in the Park
• Summer of Play Trail, Tinkley Gate (daily)
• The Watchers of Woodchester interactive outdoor theatre, Woodchester Mansion (every Thursday)

Please check before travelling, as details may be subject to change.