A great excuse to enjoy some fresh air and to welcome in the New Year with friends and family. At Cheltenham Racecourse the New Year is kick started with some of the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the land. Gates open at 10.00am, first race is on at 12.25pm, last race at 3.55pm.

The Tubby Blues Show takes place at Newlands Park Club in Bishop's Cleeve. Bands booked to play include The Mustangs and The Paul Poulton Project. Gloucestershire blues performer Otis Mack will compere the show. Tickets cost £10 each. Tables can be reserved by calling 01242 691998 or 07796 034206. Doors open at 7pm and the show will run from 8.25pm to midnight.

Cheltenham Italian Society is having a festive evening on Saturday January 5 at St Mary's Parish Centre at 7pm for 7.30pm. Musical entertainment will be provided by members and friends. Admission is by ticket only. Telephone 01242 517258 for tickets.

Bishop's Cleeve Seniors' Club at Denley Hall will be holding a half-price book sale on Saturday, January 12 from 10am to 11.30am. Admissions will be 30p and refreshments will be available.

Cheltenham Ladies' Rugby Club last home match this year at Prince of Wales Stadium - free supporters card, a coffee and cake with every programme £1. Kick off at 2pm.

The Reddings Wives' Group holds a salsa evening with a workshop and demonstration. The dancing starts at 7.30pm. The group has some very exciting events in this year's programme, and would like to invite all new members and friends (not just wives) to come along and join in. Subscriptions for members is £6 for the whole program and £4 for OAP. The cost for visitors and friends is £2 per session. You do not have to live in The Reddings to be a member, so please come along and join in the fun. For any extra information, call Kathy Ursell on 01452 714240.

The Alan Pilbeam Lectures on the Gloucestershire landscape will be starting again on Tuesday January 15 in Shurdington Chapel in Farm Lane. Lectures start at 7pm, and will carry on every other Tuesday for a series of five lectures.

On Wednesday January 16, Cheltenham Philatelic Society will be holding a meeting at the library at Prestbury from 7.30pm. More details from 01242 672823.

Mother Goose, a traditional family pantomime presented by Promenade Productions, will be performed at The Bacon Theatre from January 16 to 20. Performances are 7pm in the evenings, with matinees at 2.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Buy tickets from Showcase in Montpellier on 01242 224144.

Gloucestershire Organists' Association is holding an afternoon of Victorian and Edwardian organ music in St Stephen's Church, Tivoli at 2pm. St. Stephen's has an excellent organ and the soloist will be Carleton Etherington, who is resident organist at Tewkesbury Abbey. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Playhouse Jazz brings you great jazz music, this time by St. Edward's School Jazz Band. Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 adults, £1 under 18's - available on the door.

Glosfolk present an afternoon of talks and workshops celebrating the history and continuation of Gloucestershire's folk traditions. There will be talks, demonstrations and interactive workshops on Cotswold Morris Dancing, Pipe and Tabor, Wassailing and Mummers Play. If you want to find out more about all of these local traditions, then come along, listen, learn, have a go and find out where you can learn more. 2-5pm at The Park, University of Gloucestershire. Free admission.

Cheltenham Bride and Groom Show takes place at the Thistle Hotel from 11am to 4pm with Fashion Shows at 12noon & 2.30pm. Admission is free.

The Neil Maya Jazz Quartet will hold a concert at Bishop's Cleeve Village Hall, The Tithe Barn, on January 25 at 7.45pm, which promises to be a brilliant evening of jazz. Tickets are £8 for adults and £7 for concessions. The bar will be available. Tickets are available from Courtyard Books, George Lewis Footwear, by calling 01242 672040, and on the door.

This is arguably the best one day Jumps meeting of the entire season anywhere. Seven races give some final clues as to the destination of the big prizes at The Festival (Five Festival winners ran on this day last season), but this is a day of sporting drama that is far more than a prelude to four days in March. Highlights include the Letheby & Christopher Chase, Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle and the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. Gates open at 10.30am, first race is on at 12.55pm, last race at 4.20pm.

Cheltenham National Lifeboat Institution invites you to a frog race held at St. Luke's Church Hall. Organised by the Gloucestershire Frog Racing Club, this special event is a must for those of you who enjoy pitting your wits agains fellow competitors, and demonstrating manual dexterity. Admission £5 includes sausage and mash supper. Bar facilities available. All net proceeds will benefit RNLI. No animals will be harmed during the event.

Jazzjiveswing organizes jazz, jive and swing dances at Dowty Sports Club in Staverton. If you have a favourite tune then ask the DJ's and they will play it for you so you can get out to tunes you feel comfortable with. With fully licenced bar, shed loads of parking, and of course the finest tunes you could ever wish to hear it promises to be a delightful evening. Admission: £6, from 8.30pm to 11.30pm.

Grab a bargain and help to raise funds in aid of the protection and welfare of Cats in the Cheltenham area. The Jumble Sale takes place in Highbury Hall, Oxford Street, from 11am until 1pm. Entrance 30p, children free.

There is to be a progressive domino drive in St Nicolas' hall, Swindon Lane, next Saturday at 7pm. Anyone from seven to 90 is welcome. There will be refreshments, prizes, a raffle, and a competition for the best dressed domino. Tickets are £4 adult, £2 junior, £8 family, available from Margaret Holman on 01242 517526.

This year's pantomime of the award winning Leckhampton Players is Alibaba and the Forty Thieves. The production is written and directed by Chris Brooker and will take place at the Leckhampton Village Hall, Church Road. Tickets are available from Mrs. Margaret Humphries on 01242 522 567 from 1 Jan 08.

The Friends of All Saints' Church are holding a talk on The Gothic Revival to Arts and Crafts, an introduction to the fine interior decorations of All Saints'. The speaker is Mary Greensted, who is curator of decorative arts and designated collections at Cheltenham Art Gallery. The talk will take place at 2.30pm in the church in All Saints' Road and will be followed by afternoon tea. For more details, call 01242 577377.

Independent film-maker Mark Jay is inviting film buffs to attend the premier of his first feature film, Dolphins, at Cineworld on January 29. The former BBC documentary maker will be bringing along members of the cast and crew to take part in a question and answer session after the screening, which starts at 7.30pm.

Bethesda Church Drama Group will be performing a new pantomime, Old MacDonald, with a cast of 30, from Thursday January 31 to Saturday February 2, with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm. Evening performances begin at 7.15pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for under-15s, available from 01242 222759 and 01242 526817.