Enjoy a Summer in Stoke

The arrival of the summer holidays is always eagerly anticipated by excited children counting down the days and hours until school is finally finished for the summer! But here at Visit Stoke we know it’s not always easy keeping the whole family entertained for six long weeks! This summer roundup will take you on a virtual tour of some of the most anticipated events and activities taking place in the city this school holiday. From bustling festivals to captivating workshops, we’ll uncover an array of options, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Looking for unforgettable family adventures this summer break that won’t break the bank? Stoke-on-Trent is the perfect destination for affordable, fun-filled, family activities! With a plethora of budget-friendly attractions and events, our vibrant city promises incredible experiences right on your doorstep.

Nothing says summer like festivals and concerts, and we have plenty of those coming up in the city over the summer.

Taking place in the city centre from the 29 -30 of July is the much-anticipated Better World Festival which is back for another year of FREE music, art and artisan markets.

Appetite are bringing The Big Feast back to the city centre this holiday with a free two day festival style event in the city centre giving you an August bank-holiday weekend unlike any other with artists, acts, and fun all chosen by Appetite.

Trentham Estate is also hosting an array of Summer Concerts over July and August. Whether you’re looking for Indie Sessions, American Divas or Club Classics, Trentham have got lots of summer evening fun in store. 

Trentham Live also returns for 2023 with five amazing shows set over one weekend, featuring an incredible line-up of artists. From Wednesday 16 August through to Sunday 20 August, Trentham's 725-acre estate welcomes some of the world’s biggest music stars including McFly supported by The Hoosiers, Feeder joined by Jake Bugg and The Feeling, Chase & Status joined by Sigma and Luude, Kaiser Chiefs joined by Razorlight, and Olly Murs joined by Natalie Imbruglia.

Duke's Theatre Company will be performing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Twelfth Night live out in the open in the beautiful setting of the Church Flats within Trentham's Italian Gardens. You'll experience this story in a way you may never have before!

We all know it’s not always sunshine and clear skies in Stoke-on-Trent! So, if it’s a rainy day or evening, why not visit one of our theatres! With five theatres across the city there will be something for everyone to enjoy this summer.

Starting at the Regent Theatre with Fireman Sam saves The Circus on 30 July, Bridesmaids of Britain on 5 August or Jurassic Live, featuring mind blowing special effects, professional puppeteers and the UK's most realistic dinosaurs, this 90 minute full stage production isn't a show to miss, showing from the 22 to 23 August.

Head over to the New Vic Theatre to enjoy Eric’s Italian Job, a show packed full of great 60s hits and a lot of laughs showing from the 21 August to 2 September.

Feeling creative? Why not check out some of the workshops running over the holidays. World of Wedgwood are hosting V&A Wedgwood Wednesdays from 26 July to 30 August with free creative craft activities for your little ones every Wednesday. Family Friendly Play with Clay sessions are also available every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the school holidays. Or if the kids prefer spending time outdoors, Free Fridays at Wedgwood will be ideal for your family with crafty and educational wildlife workshops in the courtyard from 21 July to 1 September.

Visit the Spode Works factory site between the 24 July to 31 August and get stuck in to British Ceramics Biennial Open Studio Sessions.  Or if painting is more your style, the Dudson Museum are hosting a Portrait Pottery session on the 1 August, get creative and use real glazes to paint yours, or someone else’s face on a ceramic plate to take home with you!

There are lots of ways for young pottery lovers to get creative this holiday, with a Clay Dolls House Sculpting workshop at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery between the 26 to 27 of July. Or a whole summer of fun at Middleport Pottery with their self-led Summer Play With Clay running all summer long between the 30 July to 4 September. If you or your little ones are feeling creative, where is better to visit than the pottery capital itself?

If you enjoy looking at art, don’t miss out on the Print, Paint & Craft Fair taking place on House Street Tunstall on the 30 July or the In Response to Wedgwood art exhibit at the Wedgwood Museum, on display until 24 September. Barewall Art Gallery are hosting a summer art exhibition Flowers in Art Show until 31 August and 13 - An exhibition of 13 female artists from 1 - 31 August. From 28 July until 26 August, the Three Counties Art Exhibtion takes place at the stunning Burslem School of Art.

Do you have creative kids who would love to try something new this summer? If so then the next part of this roundup is for you.

Starting at the New Vic Theatre with the Play in a Week workshop running from the 31 July to 4 August. During the week, the group will explore the characters and the story from the new play “The Island” and decide how they'd like to bring it to life on stage. They'll then cast the show from the group, create the setting and rehearse, before sharing their performance for family and friends at the end of the week. A joyful way to spend a week of their summer holidays, this is a perfect experience for young people!

The New Vic will also be hosting a similar workshop for younger children, Young Adventurers! Running from the 17 to 21 July, the Young Adventurers summer project is a chance for young children to get creative at the theatre. Over two days, participants will invent characters and create stories on the set of a theatre show called The Island.

Having to keep the kids entertained for six weeks can get expensive, but there are plenty of fun days out in Stoke that won’t break the bank.

Upswing will be bringing Circus Flavours to Stoke-on-Trent this summer! Circus Flavours is for anyone who’s dreamt of joining the circus. A daytime event, giving anyone aged 7+ the chance to try out their skills in a self-contained, immersive and fun session. Opportunities to join in will be available at The Potteries Centre on 5 & 6 August, Smithfield on 12 to 13 August, and at the Big Feast Festival on 25 & 26 August.

Head over to Apedale Valley Railway on the 12 to 13 August for the Teddy Bear Outing,  A family-focussed event, especially for the little ones. Spot the bears on the journey, solve a puzzle and win a prize. Kids with bears (or other furry friends) travel for free!

Fancy a visit to the beach this summer without the road trip and traffic jams? 

Smithfield in the City Centre and The Potteries Centre have created their own beautiful beaches, so this summer you can enjoy the feeling of sand between your toes without leaving the city! 

Children can play in the sand at Affinity Staffordshire too, but beware, The Pirates have arrived! From 24 July 24 until 6 September, Affinity will be transformed into The Pirate's Cove, complete with a huge sandpit, pirates, and exciting games all for free to help parents ensure their mini pirates have a fun filled summer holidays

Why not check out the Dudson Museum for a summer Story Time with Mrs Potts on the 11 of August. Children up to the age of 7 are invited to join Mrs Potts for a fun start to their day, with a free story time. Fun crafts are available in the bottle oven afterwards, or you can buy packs to take home. You could also take on the Clinkers' challenges in the self-guided Story Quest adventure before you leave or stick around until 1:30pm for a guided story trail with Nora the Nightguard!

Help Ozzy The Owl find all 12 hidden objects around the Fairy Tale Trail at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery for just £1.50 per trail with a free pencil or head across to the World of Wedgwood for Hedgwood’s Summer Trail and Grab a free trail sheet from guest information and follow the poetic family trail around the World of Wedgwood to find out what Hedgwood the hedgehog and his woodland friends are getting up to this summer!

Does you child love dolls? Visit Around the World in 80 Dolls at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Inspired by the 150th anniversary of the publication in 1873 of the adventure novel, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, this family-friendly summer exhibition, explores the museum's wonderful doll collection. The exhibition will showcase dolls collected by Mrs Elsie Maud Young who was the great grand-daughter of William Turner, one of the well-known Turner family pottery manufacturers in Staffordshire.

If the kids are missing school, visit Gladstone Pottery Museum on 26 July where they can meet Mr Mackett, the School Master in the local Village School during the Victorian Period. He is the only teacher employed there and teaches all subjects to all the village children, regardless of their age. He is a strict disciplinarian and expects good behaviour at all times! Discover the harshness of school life, writing on slates, reciting 'times-tables', honouring the Queen, and the strong belief in the justness of Empire.

Also at Gladstone visitors can get ready to travel back in time on 11 August at Jurassic Gladstone with a walking, growling T-Rex, the dinosaur that was truly feared by all. The event will include a presentation with live animals dating back to prehistoric times, as well as a walking adult T-Rex, Blue the walking Velociraptor, a selection of baby handheld dinosaurs and dinosaur props.

We hope that you have a great summer - share your adventures with us @VisitStoke on facebook and twitter, @visit_stoke on instagram and use the hashtags #summerinstoke #mystokestory

If you want the lowdown on where to go and further information on what's on, take a scroll around www.visitstoke.co.uk/summer-in-stoke