Longton Carnival and Pig Walk returns bigger than ever celebrating community and children’s literature

Longton promises to be ‘abuzz’ with life this Sunday as it welcomes back the captivating and creative Longton Carnival and Pig Walk, and we at 6 Towns Radio will be there to help proceedings along. 

Now in its fourth year, this free event will be a celebration of classic children’s literature which sits at its heart as organisers Urban Wilderness CIC look to mark the National Year of Reading.

Local organisations and artists will, along with honouring local heroes, introduce story-inspired elements created in partnership with organisations supporting children and young people.

Last year, this community-focused event attracted around 30,000 people to (what was once known as Neck-End) Longton.

A jam-packed programme of entertainment and engaging festivities begins from 10 am, and the Pig Walk itself will start at 3pm.

Where students from Clarice Cliff Co-op Academy will bring Peter Pan to life with Urban Wilderness CIC’s Teen Squad showcasing The Odyssey, featuring a handmade Trojan horse and Scylla, the six-headed dragon. The 8th North Staffordshire Boys Brigade will showcase Treasure Island with a galleon ship, while with another creation, Urban Wilderness CIC creative volunteers and performers will reimagine Alice in Wonderland.

And for those who wish to get involved, it’s not all about the watching. Stoke-on-Trent Literacy Trust will be hosting free family workshops in Longton’s Victorian Market alongside the Family Hub, which will be launching a new permanent soft play space. You can even come and have a chat with us, as the 6TR team will be there throughout the day’s celebrations, broadcasting from our mobile studio.

Urban Wilderness CIC co-director Jenny Harper said: “We’re so excited to share the hard work of our Teen Squad and Creative Volunteers in bringing beloved childhood books to life as part of the National Year of Reading Pig Walk.

“Life is richer for the stories that we share, and the talent and energy the teenagers have put into building puppets for their Odyssey section has been a joy.”

Now firmly established and in its fourth instalment, the carnival and wonderfully eccentric Pig Walk has captured the hearts and minds of Potteries residents, with the growing community involvement reflecting its popularity and supported by increasingly more Longton based business’s.

Continuing the creative heartbeat of the day will be a giant daisy chain made from nearly 500 handmade daisies crafted by more than 25 individual makers, from 12 separate groups, which will be able to be seen across the town.

With entertainment and activities woven throughout the day, the wider programme will feature Warwick’s Fun Fair, Circus in a Box, Trentham Brass Band, City of Stoke-on-Trent Male Voice Choir, Art Brasil Carnival Drummers with the parade led by local nu-marching band KiLNE. Pottery painting workshops will take place at Kiln at Number 12 in Longton Exchange.

There will also be a heritage film screening by Staffordshire Film Archive in Longton Central Hall, and charity and community stalls featuring more than a dozen local organisations.

Proceedings will wrap up after the Pig Wall at 3.45, but for those of you wanting to take in more of the celebrations, U7 Arts will host an after-party at their base in Sutherland Road. 

Co-director Isla Telford added: “The scale of this day is only possible through the strength of the community partnerships built through the shared purpose of bringing life back to Longton.

“Urban Wilderness CIC firmly believe that people need places and reasons to connect in order to become a community, and that when that purpose is creativity, communities grow in cohesion and optimism.

“Longton’s recent bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture shows how much Longton’s creative confidence has grown over the last four years, and we are looking forward to celebrating our town together through Carnival.”

Urban Wilderness Co-Director and Danny Shaw from local nu-marching band KiLNE will also be appearing on Community Voices on 6TR this Friday 1-3pm.

Longton Carnival and Pig Walk is taking place 10am -4pm Sunday, April 26th. Entry is free.

To see the full programme and for further information, visit www.pig-walk.com