First Stoke-on-Trent Day – Thursday 5 June, 2025
Stoke-on-Trent will officially celebrate Stoke-on-Trent Day for the very first time on Thursday 5 June, 2025 – exactly 100 years since the city was granted city status by King George V.
Stoke-on-Trent Day will be an annual celebration held on 5 June, honouring the city’s history, culture, natural and built environment, and the diverse communities that call it home.
The city council has created a free Stoke-on-Trent Day toolkit, filled with ideas, decorations, recipes and activities to help individuals, families, schools, workplaces and community groups join the fun. The toolkit can be downloaded now at sot100.org.uk.
While it’s a chance to reflect on the past, it’s also about looking ahead with pride and ambition. Stoke-on-Trent is a city shaped by heritage — but full of life, creativity and opportunity today.
Highlights of the city’s cultural and community landscape include:
- Official recognition as a World Craft City, joining an international network of creative destinations
- Over 85 parks and green spaces, teeming with local wildlife and cherished by residents
- A thriving arts scene, with nine not-for-profit organisations and a wide range of community-led projects
- A proud ceramics industry, with globally recognised pottery manufacturers like Duchess China and Moorland Pottery still producing in the city
- World-class museums that preserve and showcase Stoke-on-Trent’s unique story
- A growing number of independent artisans, makers and creatives
- Traditional indoor and outdoor markets, offering everything from fresh produce to handmade goods
- Flagship events like the British Ceramics Biennial and Stoke on Clay, celebrating local art and craft
- Ongoing investment in heritage restoration and regeneration projects
- A dynamic food and drink scene, championed by local innovators like Appetite, Feasted and Titanic Brewery
- Emerging opportunities for business growth and entrepreneurship
Residents, businesses and schools are encouraged to mark the occasion in their own way – whether it’s hosting a party, attending local events or simply sharing what the city means to them on social media using #SOTDay.
Photos, videos and stories will be shared across official channels to showcase the city’s spirit and creativity.
Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Steve Watkins, (pictured) said: “Stoke-on-Trent Day is a chance for everyone who loves this city – from our diverse local communities to those who have moved away – to come together and celebrate our shared heritage and future.
“Whether you’re enjoying a Staffordshire oatcake, some traditional lobby, or simply eating and drinking from your favourite local ceramics, it’s about coming together to show pride in our city.
“Our ceramics – and our people – have spread across the globe and Stoke-on-Trent Day is a chance for everyone to come together and celebrate this fantastic city.”
