The Longton Carnival and Pig Walk, organised by Longton-based arts organisation Urban Wilderness CIC which celebrates a quirky true story from Stoke-on-Trent’s past is back for a third time.
The carnival is set to take place around the town on Sunday, April 6, from 11am to 4pm, as part of the city’s centenary celebrations.
Featuring performance stages, live music, a funfair, street food and an artisan market, the event will also include the spectacular Pig Walk parade – complete with a giant pig puppet called Jolly – at 3pm. The parade will again be led by Stoke-on-Trent-based contemporary nu-marching band KiLNE
The parade celebrates a true story from the 1880s when the Mayor of Longton, John Aynsley, successfully drove a pig from Trentham to Longton to win a bet with the Duke of Sutherland. As a result, Aynsley won the land to create Queen’s Park and the money to build Longton Cottage Hospital.
While The Strand will be closed for most of the day, the road will be opened for a short time (roughly from 11:20am to 11:30am) to allow the Star Bikers to ride through the town on their Easter egg run.
This year the team will be bringing in another local character called Meddlesome Millie, who is based on Millicent, the Duchess of Sutherland. The daughter-in-law of the Duke who made the pig bet with John Aynsley, Millicent was a writer and social reformer who campaigned for better working conditions in the Potteries, including a successful fight to remove lead paint glazes from Staffordshire pottery.
Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade is produced by Urban Wilderness CIC, supported by the Longton community. It is funded by Arts Council England, The National Lottery Community Fund, UK Community Foundations and Stoke-on-Trent City Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund funded by UK Government.
When is the Carnival?
It takes place on Sunday, April 6 from 11am to 4pm with the parade starting around 3pm
What to Expect at the Carnival?
Its FREE Entry. There will be live music, dancing, singing, free creative workshops, an artisan market, street food (with vegan and halal options), a parade, street theatre and fun fair. Do note that fair rides, food, face painting and henna require payment.
Where does the Parade Start and End?
The Pig Walk Parade celebrates a heritage story of Longton, about a bet that Mayor John Aynsley made to walk a pig to Longton, to win the land for Queen’s Park. There are around 250 people in the parade, including children and 2 drumming bands. It starts around 3pm from the top of The Strand (near the roundabout). There will be large, colourful costumes and a giant puppet pig. There will be people dancing. You are welcome to enjoy the parade by clapping and dancing from the pavement. There are no real pigs in the parade. The parade finishes at the Town Hall.
How to get to the Carnival
By Bus – Longton bus station is in the centre of Longton town. First Potteries buses 6, 6A, and 11 operate on Sundays. Bus stops on The Strand will be diverted on the day due to the road closure. Bus details and times can be viewed here.
By Car – Longton can be accessed off the A50. Public car parks in Longton include Tesco car park via Baths Road (ST3 2JB), Commerce Street Car Park (ST3 1NW) and Chancery Lane Car Park (ST3 1TU). Please note that parts of Longton Exchange Car Park (ST3 2PF) will not be available on Carnival Day due to the fun fair rides. Parking may become limited throughout the day, so if possible, please travel by public transport or car share with friends.
By Train – Longton train station is in Longton town centre, a short walk from the event.
Story of the Pig Walk
For winning the bet, the Duke gave the land for Queen’s Park to the people of Longton. We celebrate this wonderful heritage story in the Pig Walk Parade!
FAQ
- Longton Carnival & Pig Walk Parade is an alcohol free event
- Please ensure children in your care are fully supervised at all times. But if you lose a child, there is a lost child point and this is shown on the site map. Stewards will be able to direct you to it
- Friendly dogs or pets are welcome, but please be aware that it will be busy with lots of people, excitement and noise on Carnival Day
- There will be official photographers, filmmakers and social media promotion at Longton Carnival & Pig Walk Parade. All official photographers and filmmakers will be identified by a lanyard. If you do not want to be included in photographs and films, please notify a steward or visit the lost child point. You will be provided with a yellow lanyard to indicate your preference.
- Assistance dogs are welcome.
- There are accessible parking spaces in all public car parks around Longton town centre, although these may become occupied throughout the day.
- There will be an accessible toilet with the portaloos as indicated on the site map. Accessible toilets are also available at The Coffee House and in Tesco.
- Longton is a town centre with kerbs, uneven footpaths and some inclines/declines. The whole site is on tarmac, brick or slabs. There are ramp options near steps and dropped kerbs for access. The main road, The Strand, will be closed for most of the day for ease of pedestrian access and for entertainment and the parade.
About Urban Wilderness
Urban Wilderness founding co directors Laurel Gallagher, Isla Telford and Jenny Harper are three women with a driving belief that inclusive access to high-quality art can transform people and places. Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, is now celebrated as an example of how place-based creative interventions can make significant changes personally, environmentally and economically.
Their catalogue of artist commissions which engage with green space, land use and access, and climate adaption include Wastelands and The Happenings. They work with feminist assumptions that collaboration, care, and respective communications build progressive place-based partnerships that adapt previous power-structures for a more equitable future, for the benefit of all.
Over the past 4 years Urban Wilderness has secured funding for Longton from Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, Central Government Levelling Up Fund and Stoke on Trent City Council. Established partnerships with Keele University, Shademakers, and Without Walls bring national attention to their work.
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Photo copyright: Urban Wilderness/Andrew Billington
