Local Libraries Celebrate World Book Day

Plus Magic Tenner fortnight in Newcastle, first anniversary celebrations for the Philip Astley Centre, Badly Drawn Boy at the Sugarmill and Smoke-on-Trent Festival…

WHAT’S ON/THINGS TO DO ✅

HIGHLIGHTED ⬇️ (FULL EVENTS LISTINGS BELOW)

📚 Celebrate World Book Day at Stoke’s Libraries. 08/03, 10.30am-11.30am. City Central Library, Bentilee Library, Longton Library, Meir Library, Stoke Library and Tunstall Library have teamed up with the National Literary Trust and professional storytellers celebrate the day every primary school parent dreads as we try and cobble together a costume the night before. Every kid can can choose a book to take home – call into the libraries mentioned to book your free place.

Get along to your local library for some storytelling sessions…

🏞️ Enhancing the River Trent. 06/03, 10am-12pm, New Vic; 10/03, 10am-12pm, Biddulph Town Hall. Transforming the Trent Headwaters Community Conversations is a project exploring nature conservation work to improve the habitat near the River Trent and its sources. You’ll find out more about the history of the area and discover the work that’s being done. Book here for Newcastle and here for Biddulph.

🔟 Magic Tenner Fortnight. until 16/03, 10am, Newcastle. A national campaign to support the local economy, the Magic Tenner fortnight aims to help your cash go further with a wide range of goods and services being offered for just £10. There are 34 businesses and market stalls participating in the initiative, including the Foundry Gym, which is offering a month’s membership for £10, and Lymelight Boulevard, which has bowling deals for two adults and two children or four children for £10. To read the full story and check out all participating businesses, check here.

📚 Literary Events & International Women’s Day with Drop City Books. 06/03-08/03; Lancaster Buildings. Browse enlightening tomes at a literary pop up to celebrate World Book Day and International Women’s Day. On 06/03, there’s World Book Day Story Time (10.30am & 4.15pm; no need to book, suitable for ages 3-6). On 07/03, there’s Bring Your Baby Mum’s Reading Circle (10.20am-11.30am) and Others Like Me Reading Circle – Women Without Children (6.45pm-8.15pm) then on 08/03, it’s Children's Story Time (10.30am; suitable for ages 3-6, no need to book).

Drop City Books’ Ruth Wallbank is hosting a pop-up in the Lancaster Buildings

🤡 First Anniversary for Philip Astley Centre. 15/03, 11am-4pm. The venue that pays tribute to Newcastle’s circus master is turning one – and you can expect circus skills workshops, crafts and circus-themed poster making. Free admission.

🎸 Badly Drawn Boy is Back. 11/03, 7.30pm, The Sugarmill. It’s been 25 years since Mancunian singer/songwriter won the Mercury Music Prize with his debut album, The Hour of Bewilderbeast. He’s back on tour to celebrate this glorious album in all its tender beauty. Warning: he doesn’t like people talking at his gigs. Tickets £32.50.

Still wearing his trademark woolly hat, we see…

🦔 Hedgehog Walk with Timmy Time. 31/03-13/04, various locations. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Hedgehog Walk aims to get families, schools and clubs across Staffs and Stoke-on-Trent to take on a 3km stroll with Timmy and Apricot from kids TV show Timmy Time. Walk, wheel or roll the same distance a hedgehog wanders in a night to fundraise for wildlife. Sign up is now open (complete between 31/03-13/04). There’s downloadable activities for all and prizes for those who raise more than £30.

🎸 Rawk Out at the Smoke-on-Trent Festival. 05/04, 2.30pm-11pm The Rigger. Expect rock, fuzz, doom and stoner at this loud, rockin’ festival, with performances from Shred Dibnah, Bad Earth, Mushroom Beard, Pilot the Dune, Synolima, Kraken Walker and more. Tickets £15. All proceeds go to Dougie Mac.

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

• 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

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

• Daytime & Evening Beginner Pottery Courses, 10/02 for 5 weeks, LoveClay

• Winter Tree Walks, 05/03, 12/03, Trentham Estate

• The Toys Strike Back, 01/03-01/06, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• War Horse, 04/03-08/03, Regent Theatre

• Russell Kane, 08/03, Victoria Hall

• The Miner Birds, 06/03, New Vic

• Donaheys Dancing with the Stars Weekend, 07/03-09/03, Alton Towers Resort Hotel

• Women of Wedgwood Tour, 08/03, World of Wedgwood

• 10CC’s Graham Gouldman & Heart Full of Songs, 08/03, New Vic

• Artisan Spring Market, 08/03 & 09/03, Middleport Pottery

• Badly Drawn Boy, 11/03, The Sugarmill

• Relaxed Classical Performance, 14/03, University of Staffordshire

• Philip Astley Centre First Anniversary Celebration, 15/03, Philip Astley Centre

• Jason Manford, 15/03, Regent Theatre

• Castle Classics Classic & Retro Show, 15/03, Ironmarket

• Connoisseur Guided Tour at Gladstone, 15/03, Gladstone Pottery Museum

• Bernadette and Other Teenage Folk Tales, 20/03-23/03, Fenton Town Hall

• Community Lanterns Procession, 21/03, Stoke Event Square

• Revision on Tour: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, 26/03, Regent Theatre

• Burton & South Derbyshire Beer & Cider Festival, 27/03-29/03, Burton Town Hall

• Staffordshire Archaeology Day, 29/03, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

• Ceramic Planter Pocket Workshop, 29/03, Middleport Pottery

• Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea & Mother’s Day Mimosa Brunch, 30/03, World of Wedgwood

• Mother’s Day Ceramic Flower Making, 30/03, LoveClay

• Hedgehog Walk with Timmy Time, 31/03-13/04

• Smoke-on-Trent Festival, 05/04, The Rigger

• Soul-on-Trent, 06/04, King’s Hall

• The Night Sky Show, 06/04, Regent Theatre

• Industrial Middleport Walking Tour, 06/04, Middleport

• Longton Carnival & Pig Walk, 06/04, Longton town centre

• The Magnificent Seven, 08/04-12/04, Stoke Repertory Theatre

• Arthur Berry - Theatremaker, 27/05-28/06, New Vic

• The Wombats, 29/05, Trentham Estate

• Ocean Colour Scene, 30/05, Trentham Estate

• Whatever Happened to Phoebe Salt, 31/05, New Vic

• Bat out of Hell, 30/06-05/07, Regent Theatre

• The City Music Service Stoke-on-Trent 100 Big Sing, 04/06

• Stoke-on-Trent Day, various locations, 05/06

• The City Music Service Stoke-on-Trent 100 Big Play, 11/06

• North Staffs Symphony Orchestra Centenary Concert, King’s Hall, 25/06

• Stoke-on-Trent Centenary Celebration Concert, King’s Hall, 28/06

• Three Counties Open Art, 26/07-23/08, Burslem School of Art

• Russell Watson, 24/10, Victoria Hall

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