Catch the Little Mermaid at the New Vic

It's December, we've put our trees up, and silly season has begun… here are some festive events to get you in the Christmas spirit, from brass band concerts to festive cinema

WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

🧜‍♀️ Aquatic Adventures Come to the Stage. Until 24 Jan; shows at 10.30, 2.15 & 7.30pm, New Vic. Witness an unforgettable tale of hope as the New Vic brings a new version of Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairytale to the stage, which features the theatre’s special blend of circus and storytelling. Tickets from £25.

Mermaids, seahorses and more at the New Vic until 24/01

• 🍿 Catch a Christmas Movie… or two. various dates, times and locations. Watch Frank Capra’s classic tearjerker It’s A Wonderful Life (09/12, 11am, Mitchell Arts Centre; tickets £3.50) or join Stoke Cult Film Club for a showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol (12/12, 7pm, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery; tickets £5). In addition to these two classics, Cineworld is showing The Polar Express, Home Alone, Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas; check the website for details.

Stoke Cult Film Club is showing a festive classic on 12/12 at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• 🎅 Join Santa’s Christmas Party. 06/12 & 07/12, 11am & 2pm, Mitchell Arts Centre. Dasher the Reindeer’s party games are broken, and Dotty the Elf’s decorations have gone missing. Will Jack Frost’s mischief stop Santa’s celebrations? All will be revealed at this fun, festive event, where every child receives a present from the man himself; watch the trailer here. Tickets £14 adults, £12.50 for children, family £11.75.
  

• 🍊 Recalling Christmases Past. 11/12, 10.30am-12pm, Brampton Museum. From homemade decorations to a tangerine in your stocking, take a trip down memory lane with reminiscence expert Kath Reynolds, as she remembers the family Christmases of the 50s, 60s and 70s. There’s the chance to sing carols and groan at cracker jokes, too. Tickets £3.50 including coffee and tea.

Get nostalgic for Christmas as it once was on 11/12 at the Brampton Museum

• 🎺 Festive Melodies. 13/12, 7.30pm, Biddulph Town Hall. Whether it’s White Christmas or Silent Night, there’s no denying that there’s something very Christmassy about hearing a brass band, particularly when it’s this award-winning outfit, which was formed back in 1866. Tickets £10, including refreshments.

• 🎨 Paint and Sip at Twixmas. 27/12, 7pm-9pm, the Quarter @ Potbank. Escape the family and set out your 2026 ambitions with some creativity, be that creating a collage or memory box at this crafty session. All arts and crafts materials are included plus a drink from a selected list. Tickets from £26.25.
  

• 🎸 Indie NYE All Nighter. 03/12, 9pm-6am, the Sugarmill. Fancy a cheap night out this new year? Rock out to your fave indie bangers in the main Room, or Alt/Metal/Rock in room 2, there’s hits of the year on the roof terrace! Tickets £10.

EVENTS LISTINGS

• Parkrun, every Saturday at 9am at Hanley Park; Trentham Gardens; Cannock Chase; Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle; Birchall Playing Fields; Isabel Trail, Stafford

• Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie, various dates

• Make & Bake, ongoing, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Queerquest, ongoing, Staffordshire Moorlands

• Open mic nights, various dates, Darcy’s + The Woodman, The Beehive Inn, The Windmill Werrington, Foxfield Arms, & The Victoria

• Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre

• Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12

• Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay

• What’s In Store at the V&A Wedgwood Collection sessions, every Wednesday

• Lunch at Stoke Minster, every Thursday

• Guided Walks in the Peak District, Various, Multiple (Peak District)

• Titanic Brewery Tour, multiple dates, Titanic Brewery

• Spitfire Comedy Open Mic, multiple dates, Old Post Office, Burslem

• World of Wedgwood Artisan markets, every second Sunday of the month

• Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, multiple dates, Captain’s Bar

• Honeybox Live, various dates and locations

• Winter Wonderland, until 04/01, Hanley Town Centre

• Middleport Artisan Christmas Markets, 06/12 & 07/12

• Christmas Wreath Workshops, 06/12, 07/12, World of Wedgwood

• Eric’s Christmas Turkey, 01/12-13/12, New Vic

• City Voices at Christmas, 03/12, Victoria Hall

• Finance & Wellbeing Cafe, 03/12, Staffordshire Moorlands Wellbeing Hub

• Nativity! The Musical, 03/12-06/12, Regent Theatre

• Winter Penguin Trail, 06/12-04/01, Middleport Pottery

• Breakfast with Elsa and Anna, 06/12, 13/12 & 20/12, the Quarter@ Potbank

• Dr Melford’s Travelling Show, 06/12, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Santa’s Christmas Party, 06/12 & 07/12, Mitchell Arts Centre

• Dougie Mac Santa Dash, 06/12, Hanley Park

• Lantern Parade, 06/12, Newcastle Town Centre

• A Wartime Christmas, 07/12, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Bangle Stamping Workshop by Sparkle By Faith, 06/12, Yellow by Keep it Local

• Highland Cow Workshops by HSL Pottery, 07/12, Yellow by Keep it Local

• Step into Christmas with Anton du Beke, 08/12, Victoria Hall

• Bleak Expectations, 09/12, Stoke Repertory Theatre

• ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly’ Recall and Relive with Kath Reynolds, 11/12, Brampton Museum

• Cinderella, 12/12-04/01, Regent Theatre

• The Winter Gathering, 13/12, Queen’s Park

• Rode Hall Silver Band Christmas Concert, 13/12, Biddulph Town Hall

• John Kirkpatrick’s Carolling & Crumpet Christmas Show, 12/12, Fenton Town Hall

• Carols @ The Town Hall, 19/12, Hanley Town Hall

• James Bond Concert Spectacular, 21/12, Victoria Hall

• Paint and Sip The Twixmas Special, 27/12, the Quarter @ Potbank

• New Year’s Eve Black Tie Ball, 31/12, Moddershall Oaks

• Indie New Year’s Eve All Nighter, 31/12, The Sugarmill

For more events, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.

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