STATEMENT: SANTA’S ARRIVAL PARADE + CHRISTMAS EVENT IN THE CITY CENTRE

STATEMENT: SANTA’S ARRIVAL PARADE + CHRISTMAS EVENT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT CITY CENTRE (HANLEY)

Organisers behind the upcoming Santa's Arrival Parade and Christmas event in Hanley have taken the decision to move celebrations indoors, this Saturday 23 November.

Due to the high wind gusts and torrential rain forecasted, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID and The Potteries Centre will not be able to proceed with Santa’s Arrival Parade throughout the city centre, instead relocating the parade inside The Potteries Centre. The Potteries Artisan Market will also operate from a unit opposite Pandora on level 3, with a jam-packed line-up of entertainment to take place on stage outside Lush on level 3. 

The organisers of the highly anticipated event have made these changes for health, safety and enjoyment for all.

BID CEO Richard Buxton said:

"Rain, snow and of course cold weather we can deal with, but very high gusting winds on a hill - which our City Centre sits on - makes any large-scale event impossible to deliver safely. The safety of our City Centre visitors, performers and event team must always be our primary concern. However, we are still able to deliver an amazing 'Welcome to Christmas' indoors at The Potteries Centre, plus there will be Christmas performances in many of our shops on Saturday.”

“Additionally, we are now organising extra Christmas activities for each weekend on the lead up to Christmas Day. We look forward to sharing more details on this as soon as we can.”
 

Amy Whittaker, Centre Director at The Potteries Centre said: "Even the weather can't dampen our Christmas spirit, we are delighted to have worked closely with the BID and Interactive to be able to still bring our customers the best possible Christmas experience possible. The centre will be alive with Christmas spirit including Santa and the opening of his Claus' Cabin. We can't wait to spread some festive cheer."

With the support of event partners PH Productions, Circus in a Box and the Potteries Artisan Market, much of the event line-up has been relocated:

- Santa’s Arrival Parade will now be taking place in The Potteries Centre at 11am, starting at the Indoor Market entrance, weaving through The Potteries Centre.
- Fountain Square Stage will be relocated to Level 3 (near Lush).
- The Potteries Artisan Market will operate at a slightly reduced capacity inside a unit opposite Pandora on level 3.
- Free Christmas decoration crafting will be taking place in the Keep It Local Creative Department Store.
- Roaming performances will take place throughout The Potteries Centre, including festive storytellers and 'the Grinch'.
- Free face painting will be taking place on level 5 (near Clinton Cards.) 
- The funfair rides will no longer be taking place. 

For all the updated entertainment and parade details to take place in The Potteries Centre, visit stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk and/or potteriescentre.co.uk.