Saturday 6th June 2026 – get it in your diaries people

More info on all workshops

Full programme

Something different is coming.

Offbeat is a grassroots collective of artists, organisers and local do-ers making creative things happen.

We’re kicking things off with Offbeat Dursley — a curated, creative market-meets-micro-festival bringing stalls, workshops, and joy creating something abit different in the heart of town.

And we would love you to be part of it!

Offbeat Dursley will take place on Saturday 6th June 2026, and it’s a living, breathing kind of day.
We’re building the programme with brilliant local artists, makers and collaborators — and it’s still growing.

What you’ll find below is what’s confirmed right now.
More will be added as we go, so do check back closer to the time (or just come along and discover something unexpected).

Save The Date

Programme – The Day at a Glance

10am — Start Exploring The day begins with three guided walks:
Herbs with Cotswold Herb Centre
Bees with Ciaran Ellis
Rope & Local History with Andy Barton
At the same time, children can step into immersive storytelling adventures with The Wild Things upstairs in the Town Hall, while family creative writing begins with Jessica Rose-Milliner.
10:30am–3pm — Creative Spaces Open
Throughout the morning and afternoon you’ll find:
Community bunting and rope artwork
Crafting, flower bookmarks and quieter making spaces
Wild Things family workshops
Creative writing and poetry workshops
Treasure hunts across the town
The Museum of Roadside Magic with Libby Bove
Repair, mending, dyeing and textile creativity
Climate and community conversations
Stained glass, swaps, local organisations and creative displays
11am — The Square Comes Alive
The Dursley Male Voice Choir opens the square with sea shanties, folk songs and community singing.
11:30am onwards — Unexpected Encounters
Charles Brockbank’s Grey Area begins near the Post Office and unfolds across the town centre, while Barry Sykes begins popping up with playful encounters and creative mischief.
12pm–3pm — Wander & Discover
World Jungle brings circus skills and pedal-powered spin art to St James Church Green.
The Show & Share Space is in full swing downstairs in the Town Hall.
Homemade cakes, tea and refreshments are available at the Methodist Church.
Local cafés, shops, pizza, cocktails and street food keep everyone fuelled.
12:30pm — Feeling Ropey
Join Barry Sykes for a wonderfully Offbeat session of laughter yoga in Market Square.
Afternoon Highlights
Live repair demonstration with Emergence Restock
Claire Parry talk on wool, making and local traditions
Sharon Butler’s Natural Dye Reveal
Ropey Drawing Table with Barry
Discover Dursley community talk
Face painting begins ready for the Fish Disco
More storytelling with The Wild Things
3:30pm — Fish Disco Finale
The whole day builds towards a joyful Fish Disco in Market Square with Big Sis DJs, Cousin Betty and Helsync, plus fishy chaos from Sophia Knox-Miller.
Expect dancing, costumes, community and a suitably ridiculous ending to the day.
Into the Evening
The Hoptician keeps the celebrations going with drinks and live music into the evening.

– Food, coffee, cocktails & sourdough pizza from Bank Café, Sandwich Station, Ali’s Bar & Pom’Adore Gourmet Pizza throughout the day

More Programme

bUT FIRST… Get involved

Juggling & Movement Workshop

Monday 25 May
10:00–11:30
Chantry Centre, Dursley
Ages 7+ (adults join in)

Book Here

A relaxed, hands-on session with circus artist Charles Brockbank.
Learn juggling, explore movement, and create something together.

Optional chance to be part of the live performance at Offbeat on 6 June.

Booking essential.

Charles is a Bristol-based performer whose work explores juggling, movement and public space in playful and unexpected ways. His street performance Grey Area will be appearing throughout Offbeat on Saturday 6 June, bringing small, surprising moments to the high street and inviting people to see familiar spaces differently.

And then…

Let’s Create a Fish Disco

A creative workshop for everyone!

Tuesday 26 May
10:00–11:30
Chantry Centre, Dursley
All ages – from 1 to 101

A relaxed creative making session for children, families and anyone who fancies joining in.

Find Let’s Create here

We’ll be creating fish hats, costumes, props and wearable creations ready for the Fish Disco happening at Offbeat Dursley on Saturday 6 June at 3.30pm-5.30pm with DJ Big Sis in Dursley Market Square.

Expect cardboard, tape, foil, paint, colour and slightly ridiculous ideas.

Free to attend. No booking needed. Everyone welcome.

If you have any access needs or questions, please get in touch:
weareoffbeatcollective@gmail.com

Why 2026? Because it marks 100 years since the launch of the Lister D — a little engine that made a big impact and put Dursley on the map. While the centenary celebrates the town’s proud industrial past, Offbeat is here to celebrate its future — a town buzzing with creativity, care, and community.

So what are you doing Saturday 6th June 2026?

Want to be part of something local, lively and a little bit unexpected?

Know someone who needs to know about this? Pass it on!

Save The Date

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Offbeat?

Offbeat is a creative collective.
We’re a growing group of artists, makers, organisers and community dreamers who create playful, people-powered cultural moments in and around Dursley.
We work together to build creative events that feel different — joyful, values-led, and rooted in the place we live.

What is Offbeat Dursley?

Think of it as a market-meets-micro-festival.
Stalls with a twist happening Saturday 6th June 2026. Workshops that invite you to get stuck in. Performances popping up which will inspire and keep you guessing. No two Offbeat events are the same — and that’s the point.
It’s about championing local creativity, radical joy, and shared experience. Whether you’re an artist, a trader, a neighbour or a curious wanderer — there’s a place for you here.

When is the next Offbeat Dursley?

We’ve postponed to Saturday 6th June 2026 — giving us more time to build something even better, and to coincide with other celebrations and acitivities happening in Dursley next year.

Who can apply to take part?

We welcome:
Artists and makers
Traders selling handmade, ethical, or unusual goods
Performers and musicians
Workshop leaders and community organisations
Anyone with a bold, values-led idea that fits the Offbeat vibe
We prioritise diverse voices, underrepresented groups, and work that’s creative, thoughtful or unexpected.

Why the teasel?

The teasel’s spiky, practical, and beautiful — just like us. It was once used to raise the nap of fabric and bring out texture. Offbeat does the same for Dursley: lifting what’s already here and making it shine.