Get Ready for Gladstone's Animal Nativity
Meet the Christmas animals, get ready to light up the night for The Samaritans, two LOL Comedy Club dates plus a Maurice Wade gallery talk with special guests…
WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅
HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)
✞ Gladstone Hosts Animal Nativity. 07/12, Museum opens 10am-5pm with the event at 11am-3pm. Bring the nativity alive by visiting the Christmas animals from Stafford-based The Farm on Wheels at Gladstone. Kids can stroke the donkey, see the chickens, take a sheep for a walk and even meet a very friendly pet rat. There will be nativity costumes for some festive photos.
You can also enjoy some Christmas stories about snow bears, elves, Christmas cats, and even old St Nick himself by storyteller Jenna Catton from 11.30am-2.30pm (free with normal museum admission). Children can make a clay winter scene (drop in 11am-2pm. £3 a go). Normal admission charges to the museum apply.
💡 Turn a Light on for The Samaritans. 21/12. On the longest day of the year, things can feel pretty grim, which is why Staffordshire Samaritans has partnered with the council to light up windows and buildings green on 21/12. Staffs residents are also being invited to light up their windows green and share on social media using the hashtag #LightUpTheNight. If you’re struggling, call The Samaritans 24/7 on 16 123, even from a mobile without credit. The number won’t show up on your phone bill.
🖌️ Maurice Wade Reflections. 12/12, 2-3pm. Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Art fan? Don’t miss this gallery talk with Maurice Wade collectors and enthusiasts, including Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) co-founder Andy McCluskey and Henry Birks from Newcastle’s Trent Art Gallery. Tickets £12, includes entrance to the exhibition and a cream tea afterwards. Advance booking required.
😂 LOL Comedy Club. 21/12 & 31/12, 8pm, The Piano Bar, Regent Theatre. Need a laugh? Snap up some tickets for this three-hour comedy fest, which presents the best live stand-up from across the UK. It’s previously hosted comedians from shows including Mock The Week, 8 out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, and Have I Got News For You. Tickets from £18.70, concessions £16.50.
🚂 Foxfield Railway Presents the North Pole Express. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23 & 24/12; departures at 10.30, 12.10, 13.50, 3.30pm 5.10pm; 6.50pm departure on 21, 22 & 23/12. Every child receives a present from Santa on this hour-long return trip from Blythe Bridge to Dilhorne, and there’s festive snack and drink for kids plus a tipple and mince pie for adults. Santa’s Elves and Mrs Claus supply the onboard entertainment. Tickets from £49.95 for a table for four guests, £99.95 for first class for eight. Safe wheelchair storage available on the platform.
☃️ Catch Xmas Classics on the Big Screen. 23/12, 10am. Mitchell Arts Centre. Once the kids are off school, what could be more festive than a double bill of The Snowman and The Snowman and the Snowdog? Tickets £4 for children, one adult goes free.
🎸 Rock Out With Finney. 21/12, doors 7pm, The Sugarmill. One of Stoke’s most promising rock acts, Finney blend classic rock, blues and indie. There’s support from Manchester’s Muddy Elephant and Stoke’s Mara Liddle. Tickets £7. Over 14’s only.
🛍️ Shop, Shop, Shop at Bolton Gate Christmas Market. 07/12, 10am-3pm, Bolton Gate Farm. Gave you got your pressies yet? Shop local at one of the best Christmas markets in the region, where stalls feature food, beauty products, jewellery and cute doggy accessories from Hetty’s Hounds. Admission free.
EVENTS LISTINGS
Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre
Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay
Maurice Wade – A Painter from No. 57, until 26/01/25,
Potteries Museum & Art GalleryGuided 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
Electric Tentacle Electronic Music Open Mic, Multiple Dates, Captain’s Bar
The Three Musketeers, until 25/01, New Vic
Leek Live Advent Calendar, every day until 24/12, various locations in Leek
Only Fools & Horses The Musical, 02/12-07/12, Regent Theatre
The Longest Yarn, until 05/12, Stoke Minster
Christmas Decoration Workshop, 05/12, Kiln at Number 12
Bolton Gate Christmas Market, 07/12, Bolton Gate Farm
Animal Nativity, 07/12, Gladstone Pottery Museum
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, 07/12, Gladstone Pottery Museum
North Pole Express at Foxfield, 07, 08, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23 & 24/12, Foxfield Railway
Absurd Person Singular, 10/12-14/12, Stoke Repertory Theatre
Abdulrzak Gurnah reading and book signing, 11/12, Keele University
Christmas Greetings Live 2024, 12/12, Stoke Minster
Dick Whittington, 13/12-05/01, Regent Theatre
Sam Ryder, 13/12, Victoria Hall
Christmas Carols at the Brewery, 15/12, Lymestone Brewery
The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe, 15 & 16/12, Stoke Repertory Theatre
Fron Male Choir, 21/12, New Vic
Finney, 21/12, The Sugarmill
Spode Museum Holiday Craft Club, until 22/12
The Snowman & The Snow Dog, 23/12, Mitchell Arts Centre
Churnet Valley Polar Express, until 23/12, Froghall station
Christmas Eve Afternoon Tea, 24/12, World of Wedgwood
Winter Light Trail, until 31/12, Trentham Estate
Luminate, until 31/12, Shugborough Estate
Magical Days Out, until 05/01, Alton Towers
Bat out of Hell, 30/06-05/07, Regent Theatre
Russell Watson, 24/10, Victoria Hall
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