Life Thru A Lens: Photos of Stoke through the 50s, 60s & 70s on Show at Spode
Plus free family storytelling festivals in Stoke parks, discounts for Knotters on Potters 'Arf, celebrating 15 years of One Direction and Jimmy Carr plays the Regent
WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅
HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)
📸 How We Used to Live. 09/07-10/08, Spode Museum. This exhibition by late photographer/primary school teacher Donald Morris is sure to fascinate Stokies in our centenary year. For the Love of Stoke captures the potteries of the 50s, 60s and 70s: factories and canals, bottle-ovens and gas lamps, corner shops and local pubs. Like his beloved city, Morris was also born in 1925 and harboured a lifelong passion for the arts and developed his prints in a tiny homemade darkroom. Many of these photos have not been seen publicly for many decades, some not at all. Admission free.
📚Tales in the Park. Tunstall Park (29/07); Hanley Park (01/08); Yeaman Street Rec (05/08); Fenton Park (08/08); Longton Park (12/08); Burslem Park (15/08), 11am-3pm. The National Literary Trust will be in Stoke to present a series of free family storytelling festivals, with crafts, circus skills, pop-up sports, a bouncy castle, library van, and free books - yay! More info soon here. Admission free.
🏃♀️Potters ’Arf Partners with MARA – and There’s Discount for Knotters! 28/09. The Potters ‘Arf Marathon celebrates 20 years in 2025, and Staffs-based running community MARA are the headline sponsors for this year’s landmark event. There’s still plenty of time to get in training for this much‑loved race, and as an incentive, MARA is offering readers of The Knot an exclusive discount until 31/07 using the code THEKNOT. George Bettany, head coach and founder of MARA, says, “We’ll be supporting runners every step of the way, from helping prepare for the race through to leading the celebrations afterwards!”
🍔 The Grub Club Pops Up in Longton. 18/07, 5.30pm-9pm, Glost House. Hungry for something different? There’s a tasty pop-up coming our way from The Grub Club, which will be serving up dishes including Maine lobster roll, soft shell crab tacos, a BBQ burger made with a bone marrow beef patty and maple bacon, plus salt and pepper belly pork (or tofu) with egg fried rice. Cash only.
🖼️ Dreamy Art. Until 31/08, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. Digital and creative students from Stoke on Trent College are presenting work under the theme of Daydreaming right now, which explores surrealism, imagination, and alternative perspectives. The show features visual art, film, photography, games design, and digital media, along with a dedicated film section showcasing a collection of short films produced by students. The exhibition also includes a Plastic Ocean installation, to raise awareness of environmental pollution. Admission free.
👨🏾🎤 Celebrating 15 Years of One Direction. 19/07; the Sugarmill. July 23 will mark the 15th birthday of pop’s most-loved boy band. Superficial x Call Me Maybe DJs will be spinning nothing but songs from the boys all night. Tickets £9.
🤪 Catch Jimmy Carr. 10/09, 7.30pm, Regent Theatre. He’s one of the UK’s best-known comedians, famous for hosting 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown among other TV classics. Now Carr is back with a brand-new show, Laughs Funny, and you can expect 90 minutes of solid jokes with no interval. Tickets from £41.
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
Open mic nights, every Thursday, Darcy’s
Potteries Centre Events Series, ongoing, Potteries Centre
Throw a Pot and Pottery Painting, ongoing, Kiln at Number 12
Throw a Pot Sessions, ongoing, LoveClay
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
Daydreaming, until 31/08, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Jasperware at Wedgwood, 31/07; 29/08; 25/09; 31/10; World of Wedgwood
Big, Big Sky, 05/07-24/07, New Vic
For the Love of Stoke: a Centenary Exhibition, 09/07-10/08, Spode Museum
JCB Lakeside 5 and Fun Run, 10/07, JCB Rocester
A Night of Funk & Soul, 11/07, Trentham Estate
Disco Bliss Daytime Party, 12/07, King’s Hall
Six Towns Carnival, 13/07, Hanley Park
Monsters of Rock Live, 18/07, Trentham Estate
The Grub Club Pop-up, 18/07, Glost House
The Millennial Soundtrack 19/07, Trentham Estate
One Direction 15 Year Anniversary Party, 19/07, the Sugarmill
A Tribute to Ed and Taylor, 25/07, Trentham Estate
Dougie Mac Big Swim Weekend, 26 &27/07, various locations
Senasian Family Fun Day, 26/07, New Vic
The Modern Country Music Show , 26/07, Trentham Estate
One Big Stokie Day, 25/07, Hanley Park
The Ladies of Laughter, 26/07, New Vic
Newcastle Jazz & Blues Festival, 25/07-27/07, Newcastle town centre
LIV Golf UK, 25-27/07, JCB Town & Country Club
Tales in the Park, 29/07-15/08, various locations
Three Counties Open Art, 09/08-30/08, Fenton Town Hall
Hartshill Community Festival, 03/08, The Wade Centre & Noahs Bar & Restaurant
Much Ado About Nothing & Macbeth, 02 & 03/08, Bolton Gate Farm
The Time Traveller’s Adventure, 05 & 06/08, New Vic
Northern Soul & Motown Disco, 09/08, Middleport Pottery
A La Puppet Show, 14/08, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
A Night at The Darts, 22/08, Kings Hall
The Big Feast, 22 & 23/08, Hanley city centre
Bill Bailey, 28/08, Regent Theatre
Jimmy Carr, 10/09, Regent Theatre
Fenton Folk Day, 20/09, Fenton Town Hall
Potters ‘Arf, 28/09
For more events, all the way up until October, check out our comprehensive What’s On list.