A free eco-friendly festival celebrating all things sustainability and wellbeing is set to come to the city centre this summer.

The Better World Festival - hosted by the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID - is bringing the sustainable celebration to Hanley, complete with live music, street food and market stalls.

Taking place the weekend of Friday, August 6 to Sunday, August 8, the family-friendly event aims to raise awareness of making greener choices.

Children’s activities, guest speakers, fitness classes, vegan cooking demonstrations, world music and an artisan market are all part of the packed programme designed to inspire new ways of thinking at Better World Festival, which will debut in thirteen streets of the city centre.

Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID Manager Richard Buxton, said: “Originally planned for 2020, we unfortunately but understandably had to postpone Better World Festival until 2021 as per Government guidance due to COVID-19.

“Sustainability is an important agenda for the BID and so we aim for Better World Festival to be an integral catalyst in inspiring new behaviours and implementing positive change around the environment and reducing waste – something we all must play a part in for the good of our planet.

“The aim of Better World Festival is to celebrate our wonderful world and to ask and address those questions about how we can all start making sustainable choices today for a Better World tomorrow.

“We are very much looking forward to bringing something different to the city centre and to emphasise the importance of sustainability.

"We will be inviting speakers, activists, pioneers, charities, community groups and everyone with an interest in creating positive change to be a part of our packed Better World Festival programme.

“With three music stages, a Kidzone, two areas hosting an exciting programme of activities focusing on the environment, unity, and wellbeing, a chill-out retreat, a bar area and an artisan market, you're bound to take something away from this special festival and be inspired, plus, we’ll be launching a number of exciting, sustainable initiatives over the weekend.”

The BID are currently appealing for food traders - particularly interested in vegan and vegetarian vendors using local suppliers. It’s important that all containers are compostable, with no plastic bags to be handed out, and meat and dairy produce kept to a minimum.

The organisers are also searching for ‘green’ traders to host a market stall, selling sustainable and zero-waste goods, locally-sourced and handmade where possible.

Better World Festival will also see a number of local charities to have a stall on a designated ‘Charity Street’, where shoppers can bag a bargain whilst also supporting a good cause.

Councillor Lorraine Beardmore, cabinet member for public health, culture and leisure, said: “It’s fantastic that, after having to cancel in 2020, this event is due to go ahead.

"Festivals like this are such an important part of bringing Stoke-on-Trent together after the past year, as well as attracting more people into the city centre and supporting our amazing businesses who have faced so many challenges.

"The activities sound really fun and interesting, and I can’t wait to bring my family to experience it all.

“The festival also has a wonderful message that we can all support. It’s a great way of inspiring people across Stoke-on-Trent to think about how they can do their bit, lead healthy lifestyles, and help to create a better world. It’s a wonderfully positive message for everyone in the city to support.”

And city centre businesses have been backing the event - with Hanley’s Hilton Hotel even offering discounted rooms over the weekend.

Steve Alty, Sales Manager at the new 140-bed Hilton Garden Inn located in Smithfield, said: “Anything that brings people into the city centre is great news and so we’re delighted to welcome this brand-new event – the first of its kind in the area.

"After the year we’ve all experienced, it will be great to be able to enjoy a family-friendly celebration, and safely too.

“At the Hilton Garden Inn, we are introducing a special discount rate for anyone who wishes to stay in the city centre and really make the most of Better World Festival.

“For more information and to book at the discount rate, please contact our team at reservations@hiltongardeninnstoke.com, quoting ‘Better World Festival’.”

Tracey Bowen, Landlady of The Unicorn Inn on Piccadilly - which will be reopening its doors to welcome customers back safely on Monday, May 17 - added: “This is something for the city centre to embrace, with a powerful message that we all need to get behind.

"Better World Festival will attract people to our city centre with its diverse programme, which in turn will give a boost to the businesses located here.”

If you have an interest in being involved with Better World Festival, or volunteering, contact Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID on hello@stokeontrentbid.co.uk.

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