Thousands celebrate Staffordshire Day at variety of events

A film festival, artisan markets and Instameets were amongst the events and activities taking place over the weekend as residents showed pride in the county.

Highlights included the Big Staffordshire Day Arts Project, where more than 100 drawings and paintings were displayed across the county for the celebrations.

Other events saw The Staffordshire Day Film Festival held at the Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, where the winners of the film competition were crowned.

InstaMeets in Leek and Tamworth, offering guided walks of each town’s most Instagrammable spots, led by local experts. And there was a visit to the House of Commons last week, showcasing the best of Staffordshire attractions and businesses.

Councillor Philip White, deputy leader and cabinet member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Staffordshire is a wonderful county to live in and visit, with so much on offer. We’re the country’s biggest and best playground. We have it all - amazing people, stunning locations and we’re 'attraction central'.

“Staffordshire Day is our annual celebration and once again it was great to see so many people, attractions and organisations joining in the fun. This was also our first physical celebration following two years of virtual celebrations because of the pandemic, so our theme of the great outdoors was fitting.

“We’ve been delighted with the way people have rallied to the Staffordshire Day cause over the last six years and I’m glad to say that the date is now well established in our calendar of county events. I’d like to thank everyone who helped make the day so special, including our tourism businesses and everybody who put on an event.”

A relay team of local runners also ran the historic 95-mile Staffordshire Way trail as part of the celebrations on Sunday. The trail took runners from Mow Cop Castle on the edge of the Peak District to Kinver Edge in the south, taking in some of the county’s most breathtaking locations.

A vintage market was held at the National Memorial Arboretum, including tasting sessions with the finest Staffordshire food and drink suppliers.

A day of family entertainment in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre featured an artisan market, children’s fair, and the Lymelight Music Festival, celebrating local acts. And a plant hunter’s fair at Weston Park in South Staffordshire, featuring specialist nurseries and advice on choosing the best plants for your garden was also held.

The date for Staffordshire Day is 1 May and was chosen by the public in 2015, marking the creation of the world-famous Wedgwood pottery company back in 1759.