Half term fun

February half term is only a couple of weeks away and there is plenty going on in Stoke-on-Trent to keep all the family happy.

• Experience the white knuckle rides at Alton Towers, open everyday during the holiday from 10am to 4pm.
• Love is in the air during half term at Trentham Monkey Forest as the team will be on the look out for a winning photograph and caption that they believe captures a display of true romance amongst the forest’s Barbary Macaque monkeys. 
• There are FREE animation workshops and film screenings during the Stoke Your Fires Film Festival at the Mitchell Arts Centre.

That’s just a taster of what’s on during February, click here to find out more.

 

Set fire to your imagination

The Stoke Your Fires Film Festival starts on Friday 10 to Friday 24 February at the Mitchell Arts Centre and Stoke Film Theatre.

Over 65 films are being screened across the festival fortnight with highlights including five UK/World premieres, an international awards showcase, the World’s Best Animation programme from Amsterdam’s KLIK! Animation Festival, an evening with the Producers Forum, Staffordshire University’s All Fired Up media programme and much more.

You can download the full programme at www.stokeyourfires.co.uk
 

2012

Happy New Year! Wishing you a fantasic 2012. Loads to look forward to this year including;

• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee. Stoke-on-Trent based pottery companies such such as Wedgwood, Moorcroft, Royal Worcester, Burleigh, Aynsley, Churchill, Dunoon, and Emma Bridgewater will all be producing Royal Commemorative ware for the Diamond Jubilee. Come and shop in over 25 pottery factory shops for that special memorabilia or take a behind the scenes factory tour of one of the producers of the Diamond Jubilee commemorative ware. Wedgwood, Emma Bridgewater and Moorcroft all provide factorytours whilst Aynsley provide factory tours for groups.
• Staffordshire Hoard Exhibition at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. The museum already has a permanent display of artefacts from the hoard but a much bigger exhibiton of items will go on display in July 2012.
• 2012 London Olympics. Wedgwood and Royal Doulton have been chosen to produce commemorative ceramics for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Stoke-on-Trent will also be hosting the Olympic Torch on 30 May.

www.visitstoke.co.uk

Last minute Christmas shopping

No need to panic if you’ve still got Christmas presents to buy, with five shopping days left you’ve still got time and many shops are opening late in the run up to the big day.

• The Potteries Shopping Centre in the city centre is open until 9pm every week night and 8am – 5pm on Christmas Eve.
• The Emma Bridgewater Factory Shop is staying open late this Weds 21 Dec until 8pm
• Also this Weds is late night shopping at the Trentham Estate until 8pm.

Festive Family Fun!

If you’ve done all your Christmas shopping or need a break from the crowds how about taking the family along to this festive event at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent? A Victorian Christmas Enchantment takes place this Mon. 19 Dec., 11am to 3.30pm. It is Christmas Eve in 1890 and Clarissa, a Victorian lady, has just returned from her busy Christmas shopping just in time before the children arrive home.

The tree is decorated and everything is ready for Christmas. She shares with the audience about the day in the town and the gifts she has brought. Each gift has a story to tell, and there will be many stories and enchantments to be revealed, full of magic and delicately woven together in a special Christmas tapestry.

After the storytelling the audience will be able to participate in traditional Victorian parlour games and dancing and even sing a carol or two. Children will also be able to make Nutcracker Soldiers and Christmas Angels to take home and have their faces painted with festive deigns. Small charge for the face painting and craft activities.

This charming event promises to give everyone a memorable  Victorian Christmas experience to take away with them full of  magic and enchantment for children and all the family.

Christmas Offerings

Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre and the factory shop are offering customers wine and homemade mince pies every day until they close for Christmas at midday on 21st December.

Take advantage of the late night Christmas Shopping evenings every Thursday in December at Emma Bridgewater. Open until 8pm enjoy mulled wine, mince pies and a choice of great presents in the gift or factory shop.

Wedgwood Visitor Centre are offering 2 and 3 course Christmas meals in their restaurant and a Festive afternoon tea is available – booking in advance is necessary. There is 50% off all Christmas decorations in the main shop.

Churchill are offering an additional 20% off selected lines at their factory shop until 18th December. Great gift ideas with designs from Cath Kidston, Alex Clark and Queens.

Countdown to Christmas!

There are lots of events happening this weekend, 3rd and 4th Dec, to get you in the festive spirit. Go to Burleigh factory shop in Stoke-on-Trent and enjoy the Christmas Craft Fair in the upstairs treasure trove and there will be skills from the factory on show from 12noon to 4pm each day. With 50% off some selected lines so you can get some great bargains.

Emma Bridgewater will be turning on their Christmas tree lights on Saturday 3rd and there will be lots of activities for all the family. You can decorate your own dove candle for only £5 whilst the children create Christmas decorations from £2.50 and make Christmas cards from £1.50 per child.

Emma Bridgewater

See Santa Claus arrive by canal boat at Etruria Industrial Museum on Saturday and visit him in his grotto over the weekend.

Wedgwood have 25% off everything in the main shop until 4th December and 50% off all Christmas decorations.

Wedgwood decorations