It’s official: we made it through January! And there’s so much to look forward to, as February brings the first signs of spring to Gloucestershire, with fuzzy lambs being born and snowdrops flowering all over the county.
Plus, with new outdoor activity trails, illuminated installations and attractions to explore, as well as some exciting foodie openings, discover 10 unmissable things to pack into your February schedule with SoGlos’s latest hot list.
Go snowdrop spotting in Gloucestershire
With snowdrops springing up all over Gloucestershire, February is the best time to see stunning displays of the white winter flower, as it carpets woodland floors and gardens across the county.
Snowdrop-seekers are in for a treat, with spectacles worth braving the cold for at Painswick Rococo Garden, Batsford Arboretum and more – all covered in SoGlos’s round up of 9 of the best places to see snowdrops in Gloucestershire.
Play giant illuminated games in Gloucester
An illuminated arcade is coming to Matson on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February 2023, when Gloucester Bright Nights takes over the Redwell Centre with a series of unusual, interactive installations that visitors can play for free.
Kids will love testing their brains with the glowing memory game and challenging each other at connect four; while the giant, light-up version of retro mobile game Snake is bound to get grown-ups feeling nostalgic.
Explore the Forest of Dean's new activity trail
Fantastic for families with young children, there's a brand-new activity trail at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean, inspired by Julia Donaldson's popular Zog characters.
Forest explorers can learn all about the ancient woodland, while training to become a fearsome dragon along with Zog and his friends. The self-led trail is packed with stimulating activities for an action-packed day out this February 2023, with an augmented reality app to make the experience extra roar-some.
See The Shawshank Redemption played out on stage
The stage version of one of the most celebrated movies of all time, The Shawshank Redemption, is coming to Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 February 2023.
Based on Stephen King's short story Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, British actors Ben Onwukwe and Joe Absolom step behind the bars to play Red and Andy Dufresne in this captivating adaptation that explores themes of injustice, friendship and hope, against the backdrop of a maximum-security prison.
Stack them up on Pancake Day
If you don't fancy flipping your own at home on Shrove Tuesday, there are plenty of places to enjoy pancakes in Gloucestershire – from fluffy stacks of American-style buttermilk pancakes at Cheltenham's Curious Café and Bistro, to freshly-made crêpes topped with traditional lemon and sugar at Stroud's Oh Crepe!
For more inspiration for Pancake Day dining on Tuesday 21 February 2023, check out SoGlos's favourite places for flipping delicious pancakes.
Visit the Knife Angel at Gloucester Cathedral
Coming to Gloucestershire for the first time on its UK-wide Anti-Violence Tour, the Knife Angel will be outside Gloucester Cathedral on the Cathedral Green for the whole of February, bringing a poignant symbol of peace to Gloucester.
Aiming to inspire social change by raising awareness of violence and aggressive behaviour, the 27-foot sculpture is made from over 100,000 knives confiscated by police forces from across the country and is totally free to visit.
Chow down on burgers in Cheltenham
Get your teeth stuck into dirty burgers from two of the region's most popular patty-producers at The Woozy Pig and Beefy Boys' new dining destinations in Cheltenham.
Serving up its loaded bangers and smoked meats from a brand-new venue, The Woozy Pig now has a permanent residency at Dunkertons Park on the outskirts of town; while Beefy Boys hopes to open the doors to its first Gloucestershire restaurant on Regent Street on Friday 24 February 2023, too.
Meet the lambs and kids at Cotswold Farm Park
Get ready to ‘aww’ at the cuddliest bundles of joy in Gloucestershire! Cotswold Farm Park is opening its gates for the first time this year, allowing visitors to get up close to the newest spring lambs and kids from Friday 10 February 2023.
A must-see for animal lovers, the annual lambing event is one of the biggest in the country, with over 800 lambs expected to be born to the farm's commercial and rare breed ewes this year – giving people plenty of chances to witness a real-life birth!
Soak up the sights from Cheltenham's observation wheel
Enjoy bird's-eye views over Regency rooftops when the Cheltenham observation wheel returns to Imperial Gardens on Saturday 4 February 2023.
Promising panoramic views from private pods, members of the public will have plenty of chances to ride the wheel, which will be in place outside The Queens Hotel for three weeks – with extended opening hours during February half term, too.
Tap your toes at the Gloucester Folk Trail
Get your folk on and head into Gloucester for the anticipated return of the Gloucester Folk Trail – bringing the city to life with a programme of music events from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February 2023.
Catch lively performances from folk musicians, artists and poets from across the country, as they come together to champion traditional forms of folk entertainment at various venues in Gloucester.
