Thousands of people from across Staffordshire turned out for the county’s seventh Staffordshire Day celebrations.
It may have rained all day on Sunday, May 1 but the wet weather failed to put people off from enjoying the best of the region.
A film festival, artisan markets and Instameets were among the events and activities on offer.
This year’s theme was the great outdoors, highlighting the county’s outstanding scenery and urban green spaces. More than 40 different events marked the day with attractions, businesses and organisations coming together to show their pride in the county.
Lots to enjoy
Highlights included the Big Staffordshire Day Arts project, where residents and artists were invited to submit artworks of their favourite locations in the county. More than 100 drawings and paintings are now being displayed across the county as part of the celebrations.
The Staffordshire Day Film Festival at the Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, saw filmmakers being crowned for their movies of the area.
There were InstaMeets in Leek and Tamworth, offering guided walks of each town’s most Instagrammable spots, led by local experts.
A relay team of runners ran the historic 95-mile Staffordshire Way trail as part of the celebrations. 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 breath-taking locations.
A vintage market at the National Memorial Arboretum, including tasting sessions with the finest Staffordshire food and drink suppliers, attracted the crowds as did the Lymelight Music Festival in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, which also included an artisan market and children’s fair.
And there was a plant fair at Weston Park in South Staffordshire, featuring specialist nurseries and advice on choosing the best plants for your garden.
Special day
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.”
The date for Staffordshire Day was chosen by the public in 2015 and marks the creation of the world-famous Wedgwood pottery company back in 1759.
It made a triumphant return to face-to-face fun this year after being forced to host virtual events during the previous two years due to the Pandemic.
