Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID hosts Christmas Showcase this Saturday with Frozen Themed Characters and Music Acts

With Christmas just around the corner, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID is hosting a variety of festive events to encourage more footfall into the city centre during the most wonderful time of the year. This Saturday (14th December) will see Frozen-themed characters take to the stage in Albion Square for a morning and afternoon of festive performances, meet and greets and a variety of musical acts too. 

Local soul-folk artist John Dhali will kick off the Christmas Showcase event, followed by Stepping Lane, a thirteen year strong rock ‘n’ roll band before Frozen-themed characters entertain the audience with a selection of Disney favourites. The Cheadle Academy Sixth Form Choir will also be singing, as will local singer-songwriter Samantha Lloyd and duo EarWorm who will be performing a ‘Welcome to Christmas’ set, sure to get your feet tapping.

Christmas Showcase is the next instalment of the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID’s festive event programme, following Santa’s Street Party which took place in Lamb Street on the evening of Thursday 5th December and saw performances from local musicians, free face painting, balloon modelling, and of course Santa and his elves handing out chocolate gifts to little ones on the nice list.

Those wanting to escape the cold but still enjoy the festivities this Saturday are urged to pay the Hippie Christmas Market a visit between 9.30am and 3.30pm at Best Western Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Hotel. Everything for sale at the market is ethically sourced, and you’ll find amazing products, from jewellery and macramé to vegan and vegetarian food – fair trade of course, to holistic goods. Entry costs just £3 for adults (mince pie and mulled wine included!) and children go free.

In addition, throughout December and during this Saturday’s event, the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Street Ambassadors will be taking to the streets to gift visitors and shoppers at random with Christmas gifts, plus you can enjoy Salvation Army band performances by the BID Christmas tree located in Upper Market Square this Saturday from 10am until noon, on Thursday 19th December between 6pm and 7pm and on Saturday 21st December between 10am and noon.  

The Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID’s final festive event will be the Seasonal Steampunk Shindig taking place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 21st December in and around Upper Market Square where Victorian science fiction is brought to life – Christmas style – as Steampunkers take over the square in unique displays and performances. You’re invited to listen as carollers reimagine your favourite festive songs, explore the Arctic with the steampunk expeditioners in an immersive show, take in impressive stilt walkers as they roam the street, meet Steampunk Santa and his unconventional elves, AND be thrilled by an extraordinary fire show in a Christmas celebration Stoke-on-Trent has never before seen!

“We look forward to welcoming visitors into the City Centre this Christmas and hope to see a lot of engagement with our programme of festive events” said BID Manager, Richard Buxton, who was behind Halloween’s Piccadilly Spooktacular event which saw thousands descend on the street for an evening of fun, music, entertainment and thrills..

“The BID’s aim is to promote a safe, welcoming and engaging City Centre destination and we feel that the provision of such events is a great way to bring in people to the area and encourage them to explore.”