Enjoy the Great Outdoors to celebrate Staffordshire Day
The annual celebration of Staffordshire is back on Sunday with a host of events to show off the best of the county.
Staffordshire Day aims to be the biggest party of the year, with a packed programme of fun.
This year’s theme is The Great Outdoors – and residents and visitors are being urged to get out and explore what the area has to offer.
Among the events is the triumphant return of the Lymelight Festival in Newcastle under Lyme, following an enforced break during the pandemic.
The Lymelight Festival starts on Saturday and continues through to Staffordshire Day, boasting live music and entertainment, not to mention food and drink and an artisan market.
A children’s fair and lots of free activities will also be available, including a major nod to the area’s heritage with people able to throw their own pot or make a clay Staffordshire knot.
Working collaboratively, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Castle Artisan Market, are bringing the event to the region.
Meanwhile, at the National Memorial Arboretum, you can step back in time at the venue’s annual Vintage Fair. With toe-tapping music, tasty treats and a vintage market, there is something for all ages to enjoy.
There will be a tasting session in the shop and a chance to pick up vintage-style sandwich and sausage roll boxes from the restaurant, filled with locally sourced ingredients from across the county, as well as a tasty traditional oatcake or two.
In the Southern part of the county Weston Park will host a Plant Hunter’s Fair for gardening enthusiasts new or experienced. If you are new to gardening the stall-holders are happy to share their expertise to help you select the best plants for your own unique garden.
Staffordshire’s film-makers will be in the spotlight at a free film festival in Hanley, where their movies about Staffordshire Day will aim to delight audiences.
The winning entries in six categories – Documentary, Animation/Experimental, Mini-Movie, Business in the Community, and Young Film-maker – will be screened.
Free tickets can be booked at https://filmfreeway.com/STAFFORDSHIREDAYFILMFESTIVAL/tickets
Why not celebrate Staffordshire Day at The Totally Locally Leek Sunday Supplement market. The Sunday Supplement is a popular and award winning market with up to 80 stalls featuring handmade artisan products and local food.
For a real taste of the outdoors you could experience the dawn chorus at Trentham, which will open its gates at 5am. Book ahead, grab your camera and enjoy a tranquil start to the day.
For a modern twist on the Great Outdoors, you could discover some of the most Instagrammable spots in Leek and Tamworth – and then share them on social media.
A tour of Leek’s most Instagrammable spots will be led by expert Cath Walton. She will also share the town’s fascinating history during the 90-minute session, which will take in Nicholson War Memorial, Nicholson Institute, Getliffe’s Yard, Foxlowe Arts Centre and St Edward’s Church.
Tamworth expert Ian Owen will also be showing off the top spots for Instagram shots, including the magnificent Tamworth Castle, the historic Assembly Rooms, and the beautiful Rivers Anker and Tame.
The Staffordshire Day celebrations are organised by Enjoy Staffordshire, the official tourist board for the county, with the support of We Are Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council and other local authority partners.
Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism at Staffordshire County Council said: “The day is all about celebrating what’s great about our county and just how much there is on offer for visitors and everyone who lives here.
“We’ve been delighted with the way people have rallied to the Staffordshire Day cause over the last six years and I’m in no doubt this year will be just as good.”
Staffordshire libraries are also standing by with local history books, maps for walking and discovering the countryside along with walking guides and other books about Staffordshire, from history, folklore and ghosts to true crime.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said: “We’re an absolutely beautiful county with so much on offer. With national treasures like Cannock Chase, the Peak District, part of The National Forest and numerous country parks and green spaces, we have so much to explore and be proud of. Libraries will have all sorts of resources, books, guides and maps on many of these wonderful places, so a trip to your local library could set you off on your adventures.”
