This is the full programme for 2026 in date order.
You are able to home in on events that are particularly suited to children and families, Music, Drama, Workshops and Activities or Sporting events or use our Calendar to see what’s on on a particular day.
Festival Saturday
Free entertainment supported by a grant from Nailsworth Town Council
From 10.00 am until mid-afternoon
There’s free entertainment, for all the family, in Mortimer Gardens, supported by a grant from Nailsworth Town Council. The Nailsworth Festival Market is back in the bus station, from 10am to 3pm, lovingly supported by The Grace Network and bursting with the brilliant local traders you know and love. Around the corner, Love Nailsworth is pleased to bring the Artisan Market to Market Street for the Festival. There will be handmade children’s clothes, jewellery, cakes, candles, coffee beans, skin care and other delights. Duck Races will be taking place in the brook, courtesy of Nailsworth PTFA, and look out for the Family Sports Fest, in the afternoon.
Entertainment in Mortimer Gardens
10.15 G&T Blues – Grahame and Tim playing acoustic blues from the 1920s onwards and some original songs
10.45 Punch and Judy – much loved traditional puppet show – but with a modern twist
11.15 The return of Circus Frantix – entertaining circus tricks which get the kids involved
11.45 Crackstone Jacks – playing hits from the 50s and 60s
12.30 G&T Blues – relax with more blues music
13.00 Nailsworth Primary School Choir – entertaining us with their lovely singing
13.30 More laughs with Punch and Judy
14.00 Circus Frantix – Juggling, unicycling and kids’ fun
14.15 Crackstone Jacks – more music to enjoy
There will also be
entertainment in Market Street, including singer/songwriter Alison Hustwitt from 10.45, the Community Choir at 11.30 and the folk group, Elastic Band, from midday.
Charlotte Middleton at Nailsworth Library
11.00am until 12.00pm
Free
Unfortunately this event will no longer be taking place due to unforeseen circumstances. Instead, there will be a storytelling session for children. More information coming soon.
Join author and illustrator Charlotte Middleton at Nailsworth Library! Meet Christopher Nibble, the guinea pig hero of her books, and discover how even the smallest amongst us can take care of our planet. All are welcome, but ages 4-12 are especially invited.
All participating children over 2 require a ticket (available from Nailsworth Library) and must be accompanied by an Adult. Adults do not require tickets.
Sports Fest
2.00pm until 4.00pm
At King George V Playing Fields, GL6 0HT
Free
If you and your family enjoy being active, come along to King George V Playing Fields for an afternoon of fun and fitness with Nailsworth Youth Club. Skipping, table tennis, badminton, tennis, hoops and balls are just some of the activities available.
Entrance is free and refreshments will be provided. Boys and girls, mums, dads, grandparents and carers all welcome.
Grant Harrold, the 'Royal Butler'
7.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£18
Grant Harrold, the “Royal Butler”, is a former butler to King Charles III and a best-selling author. His memoirs, “The Royal Butler, My Remarkable Life of Royal Service”, were published last year. Grant will be talking about his experiences as a member of the Royal household of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. He was based at their country home, Highgrove House. Grant is frequently asked to comment on important royal matters and etiquette - from learning how to peel a banana to the correct way to eat a Pot Noodle! More details.
Questions are welcome.
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Playcircle
10.00am and 11.30am
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£6
Join us for a creative Playcircle session, where families come together to sing, move and play along to live, seasonal music. Little ones and their grown-ups are invited to explore sensory play, colourful parachute games, and flurries of bubbles in a space that celebrates connection, imagination and playfulness. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join in at their own pace. Suitable for ages 1-5 years.
Tickets from www.playcircle.co.uk/event-list
Cocktail Workshop at Waterloo House
3.00pm until 6.00pm
At Waterloo House, GL6 0AG
£35
Come and make a classic cocktail, get behind the bar and take photos. Then make a cocktail of your choice under the guidance of mixologists. Then splitting into two teams, making two cocktails per team, the winner gets a bottle of prosecco to share, and the losers have a forfeit shot!
Tickets direct from Waterloo House, Info@waterloohouse.co.uk or via Facebook/Instagram page or website.
Pantaloons: “Sherlock Holmes & The Hound of the Baskervilles”
7.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£15
How can one show possibly contain so much action and adventure? Elementary, my dear! The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company present a brand-new riff on the fiendishly famous case. Will detective duo Holmes and Watson discover the deadly secret of the Baskerville family curse before it strikes again? Or are they barking up the wrong tree? Features live music, audience interaction and more mystery than you can shake a magnifying glass at.
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Purl the Sheep felting workshop
11.00am until 1.00pm
At The Makerss, Glenholm, George Street GL6 0AG
£35
Join Steffi Stern, needle-felting expert, to create this adorable knitting
sheep with her woolly waistcoat, purple wire glasses and tiny knitting needles (knitting colour may vary). Learn how to shape a simple pipe-cleaner armature, felt wool firmly and add charming details. Take home your finished sheep (about 8-10 cm sitting), your felting needle, full instructions and any leftover wool. A fun and friendly workshop for all skill levels! 14 years plus.
Tickets direct from The Makerss shop or email info@themakerss.co.uk
Kirsty Hartsiotis: “Folklore of the Cotswolds”
7.30pm
At Nailsworth Youth Club, GL6 0LZ
£8
Discover mysterious, funny and romantic Cotswolds tales.This talk by folklorist and storyteller Kirsty Hartsiotis explores the tales told by the folk in the region over many centuries. Taking in wallowing pigs and ancient goddesses, a queen who may not be what you think she is, greedy kings, flying monks and wicked wizards, saints alive, little folk, big cats, and much more! Kirsty is a professional storyteller and author. She explores the folk tales and traditions of the area in her regular column for Cotswold Life.
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Boo Hewerdine & Yvonne Lyon: “Things Found in Books"
The Nailsworth Festival Richard Valentine Memorial Folk Concert
7.30pm
At Ruskin Mill GL6 0LA
£14 / £8 concessions (under 30 / disabled, assistants come free)
Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine’s new album “Things Found in Books” is written in response to a noticeboard in Culzean Castle’s second-hand bookshop. Boo Hewerdine is an acclaimed award-winning English singer-songwriter. Yvonne Lyon is among the UK’s brightest and best singer-songwriters. Boo and Yvonne have formed an inimitable songwriting partnership weaving these ephemeral stories with their own, creating an album full of nostalgia and beauty, hope and longing.
To book please contact Ruskin Mill 01453 837537
Simon Draper: “Dark Ages to the Black Death in Gloucestershire”
7.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£8
Dr Simon Draper is an archaeologist specialising in landscape settlement,
anthropology, and medieval society. He is assistant editor for the Victoria
County History (VCH) in Oxford and previously worked for the VCH in
Gloucestershire, where he now lives. In this illustrated talk, he will guide us
through the rich and varied landscapes of medieval Gloucestershire, from the Dark Ages to the Black Death.Using the latest historical and archaeological evidence, he will investigate how the county was farmed, settled and governed, and how the many towns and villages originated and evolved.
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Film Club Tea Party!
2.30-4.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£8
Short films from Silent Movies to the Present Day. With musical accompaniment. Do come and join us.
Refreshments
Philip Clouts Quartet
7.30pm
At St George’s Church, GL6 0BP
£15
Melodic jazz with inspirations from around the world. Cape Town-born pianist/composer Clouts’ South African roots have inspired a voyage of discovery through the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel.
Joined by rising star saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Marcus Penrose and drummer Ted Carrasco, he brings his musical journey alive with superb musicianship and infectious vigour.
Chris Phillips Jazz FM: ‘The best of British jazz’; The Guardian:‘Precise ebullience and relaxed funkiness’
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Poetry Slam
7pm
At Egypt Mill, GL6 0AE
£10
It’s a prime knockout night in Nailsworth, as poets take the page onto the stage to compete for points that lead to prizes! Judges rate the quality of writing, performance and warmth of the applaudience.
Heavenly hosts Elvis McGonagall and Sara-Jane Arbury keep up the good verbal vibrations, so come and lend your support for those aiming to stanza and deliver. To enter the Slam as a competitor, please email Sara-Jane at sjarbury@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE:This event may contain adult language and subject matter.
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Kleio Quartet
Sponsored in memory of the late Robert Stiling, Brownshill, Stroud
7.30pm
At St George’s Church, GL6 0BP
£15
First Prize and Commission Prize winners at the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition 2023, the Kleio Quartet are quickly establishing themselves as an internationally-recognised quartet. The Kleio quartet are also BBC New Generation Artists 2024-2026. They have given live-broadcast concerts on BBC Radio Three and performed at the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and London’s Kings Place. Also, across Europe and at the Edinburgh International Festival. Their programme, in Nailsworth, features Elgar’s String Quartet, as well as works by Beethoven and Smetana.
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An evening with Jonathan Agnew
7.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£20
Jonathan Agnew is a renowned cricket broadcaster, who has been at the centre of coverage for the BBC for over 28 years. His “leg over” comment during Test Match Special in 1991 was voted “greatest sporting commentary ever” in a BBC poll. In his younger days he was a county and international cricketer. He is a wonderful cricket speaker, lauded around the UK and beyond. Come and hear his reflections on the most recent Ashes Test and where English cricket goes from here. He will also entertain us with stories from the commentary box and answer audience questions, so come prepared with yours!
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Visit Gigg Mill and Dunkirk Mill
23rd May: Gigg Mill open 10am - noon and 2pm to 4pm.
23rd and 24th May: Dunkirk Mill open 2pm to 4pm.
As part of your Festival experience, visit Gigg and Dunkirk Mills and learn about the history of the cloth industry in the Stroud Valleys. Try your hand at weaving at Gigg Mill and see the water wheel turning at Dunkirk Mill.
These events are presented in collaboration with the Stroudwater Textile Trust.
Ring Making Workshop from Practical Intelligence
10.00 am until 12.00pm
At Nailsworth Community Workshop, Nailsworth Subscription Rooms, Bath Road, GL6 0HH
£20 to include all tuition and materials.
For reasons beyond the control of the Festival, this workshop will not be taking place on this advertised date. Contact Practical Intelligence for an alternative date.
Come along to the workshop on the ground floor of Nailsworth Subscription Rooms and make your own silver ring. Gavin will take you through the process of measuring the silver, cutting and filing it, then soldering the ends together. After that starts the process of sanding, so the joint becomes invisible, shaping and polishing. You will end up with a shiny silver ring lovingly made by you - either for yourself or someone else.
Book by emailing pam@practicalintelligence.org.uk or call 07971737626.
10 people maximum,
Warm landscape felting workshop
2.00pm until 4.00pm
At The Makerss, Glenholm, George Street GL6 0AG
£50
Join Steffi Stern, needle-felting expert, to create a warm and atmospheric
wool “painting” as Steffi guides you through layering colours, building landscape depth, and adding artistic details with just a felting needle. Take home your masterpiece (about 20x30cm), your felting needle, full instructions and any left-over wool. A relaxing and mindful way to craft and learn something new. For all skill levels! 14 years plus.
Tickets direct from The Makerss shop or email info@themakerss.co.uk
Living with Swifts - the Sirens of Summer
2.00pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£5
Sarah Roberts presents a talk on the Common Swift, an urbanised bird on the British Trust for Ornithology red list for conservation concern. Sarah has been involved in bird conservation for over a decade and started North Wiltshire Swifts in 2019, as a specialist project and advice group. Their aim is to preserve and boost existing swift populations, in Wiltshire, through nest box projects and support others to do so. The talk will be a friendly introduction to swifts with some super facts, amazing photos and all you need to know to get started in helping these incredible sirens of summer.
Jake Leg Jug Band
7.30pm
At Town Hall, GL6 0JF
£10
The Jake Leg Jug Band brings you the authentic sounds of 1920s and 1930s America - jazz, blues, ragtime and gospel. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. After self-releasing their debut album Cotton Mouth, the band signed to one of the UK’s most prestigious Jazz labels, recording three albums as part of the ‘Vintage Recording Project', recording live around ribbon microphones. A number of acclaimed albums followed. In 2024 the band released the award winning ‘Some Glad Morning’ a full album of Gospel songs. “An entertaining and varied mix...the Band shows how warming and moving spirituals can still be today...” Rootstime (Belgium).
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