With frosty mornings and darker evenings comes the start of the festive season — and Gloucestershire is glimmering with gorgeous light displays, as the first signs of Christmas start to appear this November 2025.
Kicking the month off with a bang, there’s also explosive firework displays and the return of Stroud’s beloved book festival, with SoGlos sharing 10 of the best things to do in Gloucestershire this month in this hot list.
See spectacular firework displays in Gloucestershire
Get ready to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ as the night sky above Gloucestershire lights up for Guy Fawkes Night, with an array of fireworks and bonfire events taking place across the county this November 2025.
Wrap up warm for a dazzling display soundtracked by iconic film scores at the Fireworks and Film Spectacular at Cheltenham Racecourse, hosted by Cheltenham Round Table; or enjoy an evening packed with family fun at Cattle Country Farm Park or Sudeley Castle and Gardens — with SoGlos sharing 14 spots to see dazzling displays and bonfires in Gloucestershire.
Countdown to Christmas at Gloucestershire's best lights switch-on events
Towns and villages across the county are gearing up to switch on their Christmas lights this month, with plenty of opportunities to get together and count down to the start of the festive season.
Don't miss Gloucester's annual Lantern Parade, where nature-themed lanterns made by local school children will be paraded through the city as the Christmas lights come on; fuel up on festive cheer and watch the quayside twinkle at Gloucester Food Dock's Christmas lights switch-on; or see The Brewery Quarter's lights in all their glory at its Christmas Launch Party.
Catch The November Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse
A highlight in the British Jump Racing calendar, The November Meeting is bringing three days of exhilarating horse racing action to Cheltenham Racecourse from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 November 2025.
Lucky punters can place their bets with action-packed races taking place every day, as well as countryside pursuits, shopping opportunities, live music and free family activities to keep everyone entertained.
Go ice skating in Gloucestershire
For heaps of festive fun, there’s snow place like an ice rink in the run-up to Christmas — and there are plenty of seasonal skating opportunities across Gloucestershire, including the open-air ice rink at Gloucester Quays and the Gateway Ice Rink at Cotswold Lakes, from Thursday 20 and Friday 21 November respectively.
Cheltenham skaters are in luck too, as the Christmas ice rink returns to Imperial Gardens to headline the Regency town's festive celebrations, from Friday 21 November 2025.
Celebrate stories at Stroud Book Festival
Featuring critically acclaimed, best-selling and up-and-coming local writers, Stroud Book Festival is back in town from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 November 2025.
There’s something for readers of all ages in the festival’s packed programme, from young bookworms to seasoned literature lovers — including talks from The Gruffalo creator, Julia Donaldson and How to Train Your Dragon writer Cressida Cowell; popular novelists Ian McEwan and Elif Shafak; and renowned non-fiction writers Philippe Sands and Robert Macfarlane.
See stunning light installations across Gloucestershire
With Christmas just around the corner, some of Gloucestershire's best attractions are lighting up for the season, switching on their illuminous installations to create spellbinding light trails that will leave visitors with a fuzzy festive feeling.
The county will be glowing with light and colour from mid-November, with stand-out highlights including the returning Christmas at Westonbirt trail at Westonbirt Arboretum, Sudeley Castle's Spectacle of Light and the Winter Glow Light trail at Three Counties Showground.
Visit a Christmas market in Gloucestershire
Whether you’re shopping for stocking fillers or hankering for your first sip of mulled wine, there's nothing like marking the start of the Christmas season with an evening at one of Gloucestershire's twinkling festive markets.
With markets starting to open up all over the county, highlights include Gloucester Quays' Christmas markets starting on Saturday 8 November and bringing artisan stalls and street food every weekend in the run-up to Christmas; while The Dial House is marking the start of the festive season in Bourton-on-the-Water with its Christmas market on Friday 28 November 2025.
Create nature-inspired art at Westonbirt Arboretum
Nature lovers of all ages can embrace their inner artist to capture their own impressions of autumn, with Westonbirt Arboretum's new botanical exhibition and drawing trail.
Running until Sunday 30 November 2025, explore a stunning outdoor exhibition of botanical drawings before capturing the textures, shapes and stories of the trees around you on the Drawn to Nature trail, with a free charcoal and sketchbook to take with you and stops along the way providing tips and inspiration, too.
Start your Christmas shopping at New Brewery Arts
It's never too early to start playing elf and Christmas shoppers can get hunting for gifts at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, where hundreds of designer-makers will be displaying their wares as part of its JOY! winter exhibition and retail event.
Pick up everything from handmade homewares and precious jewellery to gift vouchers for pleasing the pickiest people, with the shopping event running right up until Christmas Eve – or with the charity's recent appeal for community support to help it stay open, consider giving the gift of creativity by booking your loved ones onto one of its craft courses and workshops.
Become a detective with Inspector Morse at the Everyman Theatre
Murder mystery fans can put their detective skills to good use when the first ever stage adaptation of Inspector Morse comes to Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre, from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 November 2025.
Starring Father Brown and Waterloo Road actor Tom Chambers, Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts sees the detective embark on a gripping investigation when a young actress suddenly dies on stage during a performance – with thrills guaranteed as the suspicious death inquiry takes a dark turn.
