How to spend a Centenary Weekend in the City Centre from Stoke-on-Trent Day onwards.

This week is the week in the Stoke-on-Trent calendar that is the highlight of the city’s Centenary year.

Although the celebrations will last all year, the 5th of June marks the actual day in 1925 when King George the V, somewhat unexpectedly, announced to a waiting crowd outside the Kings Hall, that their borough would become a city to celebrate the city’s ‘great artistic and industrial mix of talent and fortitude’. Didn’t he have a good point?!

Therefore this weekend really is the heart of the Centenary year, kicking off with the inaugural ‘Stoke-on-Trent Day’ on Thursday the 5th June (mark your diaries from this year on!), there’s a huge range of events that anyone can be part of. Here are some of this weeks city centre highlights to share with everyone you know:

1. Get a History Hit - Catch the last of the ‘A Centenary of Collecting’ exhibition at the top class (& soon to be upgraded) Potteries Museum & Art Gallery until the 8th of June. A spectacular chance to see 100 years worth of collections and collectables that have significance in our city.
2. On your Bike (or phone!) - Stoke-on-Trent Day, the first ever, is this Thursday the 5th of June and it’s time to tell the world with #SOTDay. Check out the Centenary Bike Ride taking place from Hanley Park’s band stand from 12 noon which will follow the scenic China Trail through the city.
3. For a Culture Vulture - The BBC Philharmonic is performing ‘A Night at the Opera’ at the Victoria Hall on the 6th of June to celebrate the Centenary but also as a loud reminder that world class performances happen all over our city - we are on the UK’s cultural map after all.
4. Gather together - The People’s Parade takes place on Saturday the 7th of June through the city centre, starting on Broad Street at 2.30pm and finishing with a Party in the Park in Hanley Park from 3-6pm. What better way to enjoy our city centre with all the family.
5. Party like it’s 2025 - If partying is your thing, then be part of the Stoke 100 Street Party on Piccadilly in the city centre on Saturday the 7th of June. Headlined by Norman Jay MBE, the party runs from 2-11pm, with a huge range of music and plenty of opportunity to enjoy delicious food along the way from Vietnamese to Italian.

Feel like this is the start of a new love for the city centre? Here are 5 super tips to being a city centre champion:
• Stay tuned for more Century celebrations across the yearend across the city at SOT.org.uk
• Stay positive and up to date by saving the City Centre BID website for latest Success Stories, events and general good news from the city centre at https://www.stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk/
• Use your voice online by sharing positive content about the city centre using hashtags #SOT100 and #WeLoveStokeonTrent
• Pledge to visit, share & shop in the city centre, from independent eateries to cool book shops, from big brand names to hyperlocal stores.