Stroud's Goodwill market is on the Cornhill on Fri 4 Dec, 4pm to 9pm, then Christmas markets 16 to 18 Dec. Plus Dursley 27 Nov and Slimbridge's indoor market.
Stroud has two sets of Christmas markets on the Cornhill Market Square this year, both run by Fresh-n-Local, the company behind the Saturday farmers’ market. The Goodwill Evening market is on Friday 4 December, 4pm to 9pm, and the “Finish your Christmas shopping in Stroud” markets follow on Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 December, 9am to 4pm. (Fresh-n-Local, Christmas markets)
The quick answer
- Goodwill Evening market: Friday 4 December 2026, 4pm to 9pm, Cornhill Market Square, its 25th year, up to 35 stalls with hot food and mulled wine and cider.
- Last-minute Christmas markets: Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December, 9am to 4pm, Cornhill Market Square, for the 13th year.
- Nearby: Dursley’s switch-on market is Friday 27 November, 4.30pm to 8pm; WWT Slimbridge runs an indoor market on nine days from 5 to 23 December.
Stroud: the Cornhill markets
Fresh-n-Local has confirmed both sets of dates on its own site. Neither is a farmers’ market: it invites traders selling fairly traded products, handmade gifts and gourmet food and drink.
Goodwill Evening market, Friday 4 December. Stalls are limited to 35 and there will be a café, hot food stalls, mulled wine and cider. It sits inside the wider Goodwill Evening, when the town’s Christmas lights come on; our Goodwill Evening page covers the lantern procession, the Shambles markets and the road closures, and what is still unconfirmed about the evening itself.
“Finish your Christmas shopping in Stroud”, 16 to 18 December. Three weekday markets in the last full week before Christmas, 9am to 4pm, which Fresh-n-Local has now run for 13 years.
Farmers’ market. The Saturday farmers’ market is separate from both. For Christmas, Fresh-n-Local’s advice is to order a free-range turkey, goose, duck or chicken from the stallholders early.
For traders, the organiser has published the stall prices: £55 for the Goodwill Evening, held at last year’s price, and £35 a day or £90 for all three December days.
Nailsworth, Dursley and Slimbridge
| Where | 2026 date | Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dursley town centre, Christmas lights switch-on | Friday 27 November | 4.30pm to 8pm | Confirmed by the town council |
| Stroud, Cornhill: Goodwill Evening market | Friday 4 December | 4pm to 9pm | Confirmed by the organiser |
| WWT Slimbridge indoor festive market | 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 to 23 December | 9.30am to 4pm | Confirmed by WWT |
| Stroud, Cornhill: Christmas markets | 16, 17, 18 December | 9am to 4pm | Confirmed by the organiser |
| Nailsworth Goodwill Evening | Not yet announced | 2025: from 3pm | 2025 was Friday 28 November |
Dursley holds its Christmas lights switch-on with a street market on Friday 27 November, 4.30pm to 8pm in the town centre; the town council opened stall bookings in August. (Dursley Town Council, 27 August 2026)
WWT Slimbridge is starting an indoor Christmas market this year as part of its new Wetland Wonderland event: ten makers a day in the Visitor Centre, with hot food and a choir twice a day. It is inside the paid attraction, so you need an admission ticket. (WWT Slimbridge, festive indoor marketplace) Prices and times are on our Slimbridge in winter page.
Nailsworth’s Goodwill Evening was on Friday 28 November 2025. The market opened at 3pm, Market Street was closed all day for the stalls, and the bus station hosted the fairground rides. The 2026 date has not been published; the town’s Christmas plans appeared in the November issue of Nailsworth News last year. (Nailsworth News, November 2025)
Parking and getting there
On the Goodwill Evening the core town centre streets are normally closed to traffic from late afternoon, so park on the edge. The car parks and Christmas concessions are on our parking in Stroud page, and road closures go on roadworks and travel as they are published.
What is still to be confirmed
- Nailsworth Goodwill Evening 2026 date and times (expected in the November Nailsworth News)
- Stroud’s Goodwill Evening programme and road closure order (expected in November)
- Whether any trader list is published for the Cornhill markets
Frequently asked questions
When is Stroud Christmas market 2026?
The Goodwill Evening market is on Friday 4 December, 4pm to 9pm, on the Cornhill Market Square. The three-day Christmas markets follow on Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 December, 9am to 4pm, in the same square.
Is the Stroud Christmas market a farmers’ market?
No. Fresh-n-Local says both Christmas markets are for fairly traded goods, handmade gifts and gourmet food and drink, although local producers are encouraged. The Saturday farmers’ market is run separately.
Is there a Christmas market at Slimbridge?
Yes, new for 2026: an indoor market in the Visitor Centre on 5, 6, 12 and 13 December and 19 to 23 December, 9.30am to 4pm. It is inside the paid centre.
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