WELL what can I say?

This Saturday will see the market at its most humongous, its most vibrant and most wonderful.

Sixty-five stalls selling anything from a potato to a bottle of beer, from a jug to a muffin, from a nut roast to a pig roast roll.

Yes friends, it is going to be great.

Meet your friends, meet your favourite stallholders, get all you need for the festive table, chat, smile and enjoy this wonderful event in all its glory.

And what a year it has been.

January was marked by the fear of the market going out to tender and the wonderful support shown for the market and our organisational ability, as thousands of you let the council know how you felt about the potential change.

How is it possible to thank all of you?

There is only one way that I can think of and that is by putting on the best possible farmers’ markets week in week out.

The level of support shown by you, our dear customers has made this into an excellent year for the market.

Thanks.

This Saturday sees new local Stroud district traders completing their first year of trading with us; Must Have Muffins, Plenty! Pies, Tortworth Nursery, Star Anise Nut Roasts, The Artisan Baker and Cotswold Soaps. Products at the last stall are made from vegetable oils and do not break up like many vegetable-based soaps; no artificial colourings or preservatives are added. They are not tested on animals. It has been pleasing to see how the businesses have grown over the year.

As well as seasonal entertainments, this Saturday will feature a hog roast, hot soups, burgers, bacon rolls and hot dogs, falafels and the market café, as well as loads of local crafts people, cheeses, holly and mistletoe, table decorations and wreaths and Christmas puds, mince pies and cakes.

You will also find Bow in the Cloud Bubbly, Beers, VQ country wines (including a nice Merlot), Days’ Ciders and Perry and loads of food.

Don’t forget that you will have two chances to get your Christmas fare, as the farmers’ market returns on Tuesday, December 23 so you can get your festive fare as fresh as possible.