Get Stoked for Easter!

The clocks have gone forward, the days are warming up, the grass is growing, and the trees are blossoming! Spring has finally sprung and Easter is upon us! We've got some great events and activities taking place in the city to keep all the family happy this Easter holiday!

Let's start the round up by getting creative! If you’re feeling crafty this Easter then look no further than the World Capital of Ceramics - Stoke-on-Trent! Head to Middleport Pottery on 4 April for a Mini Easter Jar Workshop, with all materials included in the ticket price. You can also check out their Relief Printing Workshop where you can draw, press and design relief prints to take home with you.

More of a painter? Emma Bridgwater’s decorating studio is open every day over the Easter holidays, giving you the perfect opportunity to drop by and sponge some spring designs onto your own piece of pottery!

Visit the World of Wedgwood, open Wednesday to Sunday throughout the Easter break, to get creative with ceramics and paint. There’s something for everyone to decorate from pots… to unicorns! There will also be a V&A Wedgwood Collection Guided Tour taking place on 12 April with the theme of 'Signs of Spring'. Help Josiah Wedgwood on his quest as he looks for signs of spring, and inspiration for his new pottery experiments. On 15 April, enjoy World Art Day at World of Wedgwood to get hands-on with bundles of different forms of art, including workshops and free drop-ins that cover illustration, crafts, clay, poetry, painting, printing, and the art of food. 

Mitchell Arts Centre are hosting a Jungle Book Crafts workshop on the 4 & 12 April, where your little ones can colour, paint and create whilst making new friends and will also be holding a Jungle Book Workshop on 11 April.

Build and paint your own model kit in The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery's Spitfire Gallery! Model Make 'n' Paint, taking place on 1 April is perfect for first-time modellers, where you’ll learn how to assemble and paint one of a range of vehicle models. 

Gladstone Pottery Museum, will be reopening for the season on 1 April with a brand new exhibition featuring Costumes from Peaky Blinders – The Grit and the Glamour. Easter activities also taking place include Easter Treats at Gladstone Pottery Museum and Children’s Easter Floral Basket Workshops.

There are plenty of activities available for all of you animal lovers available in Stoke-on-Trent this Easter. Swing by Trentham Monkey Forest between the 27 March and 9 April to enjoy an Easter Egg Quiz Trail whilst you roam amongst 140 free roaming Barbary macaques!

Whilst you’re in the area why not head over to the Trentham Estate? Trentham not only have a fantastic Spring Bulb Festival taking place, but are also hosting live lambing events between the 1 to 16 April, where, under the watchful eye of their farmer, will have their rare sheep breed in the gardens to share the joy of lambing season with us all! If lambs aren’t enough cuteness for you, pop over to the Emma Bridgwater Factory for ‘Cuddle a Chick’ on the Mon 4, Tue 5, Weds 12 & Thurs 13 April to meet their newly hatched teeny chicks.

Now, we can't forget a very important part of Easter... the eggs of course! Take a stroll around Hanley Park on Sunday 9 April and take part in their ‘Easter Egg Dash’. Walk, skate or hop your way around the park to find all 6 of the hidden Easter bunnies to collect stamps and cash them in for chocolate goodies! With the Easter dash and chocolate prizes included in the ticket, you won’t want to miss this egg-cellent opportunity!

If you're in the mood for a party, then The Goods Yard is the place to be! Goods Yard Fest takes place on Sunday 9 April and will be a buzzing street party packed full of good food, top tunes, banging booze plus a few extra surprises! There'll be fun for all the family with street artists and performers, live music, DJ sets, street food and loads more. Entry is totally free and everyone is welcome! 

For any steam train fanatics, Apedale Valley Light Railway are hosting Easter Egg Hunts between the 8 to 10 April with prizes for whoever can spot all of the eggs on the railway! How many can you spot?

Affinity Shopping Centre have two days jam packed with Easter fun for all the family with the Great Easter Adventure on 5 & 6 April. All events across both days are FREE of charge, so head down on Wednesday 5 April for Easter crafts, Easter egg trails and to meet Blossom and the majestic white lion.  Or visit on Thursday 6 April for Easter crafts, trails and to meet the Easter bunny! Why not check out some of the amazing shops available in the centre while you’re there?

Whilst we're on the subject of shopping, Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre have an April Fools Day Sale taking place on the on 1 April with foolishly good prices, but only until 12 noon of course! Or pop over to the Plant Hunters Fair at Dorothy Clive Garden Drayton on Sunday 9 or Monday 10 April to browse stalls from many specialist and award winning nurserys while enjoying the delicious homemade food available at the garden tea room.

We all know spring is not always sunshine and clear skies in Stoke-on-Trent! So, if it’s a rainy day or evening (or even if the sun is shining!) this Easter holiday, why not visit the theatre! Our local theatres have a jam packed schedule this Easter holiday with shows like The Demon Dentist (30 March – 3 April) and Heathers The Musical (11 – 15 April) at The Regent Theatre. Bouncers (28 March – 2 April) and Abigail’s Party (5 – 15 April) are on at the New Vic Theatre. For a family treat filled with interaction, music and comedy, why not visit the The Mitchell Arts Centre to watch the Jungle Book on the 16 April.

We hope you have a very happy Easter and enjoy some of the many fantastic activities on offer in the city! Tell us about your Stoke-on-Trent Easter days out or send us your Stokie selfies! Tweet us @VisitStoke share your pics on Instagram @visit_stoke using #mystokestory or follow our story on facebook.