Magical Winter Gathering to Light Up Longton’s Queen’s Park This December

Longton’s Queen’s Park is set to sparkle this weekend as Urban Wilderness CIC returns with its second Winter Gathering, a free family event that celebrates light, myths and community. The park will be transformed on Saturday, 13 December from 4pm to 6pm, inviting visitors to explore illuminated walkways, enjoy live performances and take part in a community lantern parade.

Funded by Stoke on Trent City Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Queen’s Park Partnership, this year’s Winter Gathering draws inspiration from Greek mythology, bringing the story of the Minotaur to life through giant puppets and creative storytelling.

The lantern parade, beginning at 5pm, showcases artwork from Year 8 students at Florence MacWilliams Academy, St John’s Heron Cross Cubs, art foundation students at Stoke on Trent College, North Staffordshire Young Carers and members of Urban Wilderness’s Teen Squad, Art Club and Creative Volunteers.

The headline puppets were created during a two week summer masterclass with Thingumajig Theatre and local artists. These towering illuminated figures, including a minotaur and an eagle inspired by stone carvings on Longton Town Hall, will guide visitors through a retelling of the myth.

Ross Ankers of Circus in a Box performs at NUL BID Christmas Light Switch-on (Through A Lens Photography)

Isla Telford, co director of Urban Wilderness CIC, said: “In our retelling of this Greek myth, Ariadne befriends the Minotaur, reclaims her destiny and leads the Minotaur out of the labyrinth and into the light. It’s a metaphor for holding true to what is good and right in troubled times.”

The evening builds towards a fiery finale at 5.45pm with the premiere of The Prometheans, a narrative fire show created by North Staffordshire performers Circus in a Box. Eve Travis and Ross Ankers will bring movement, flame and folklore together in a performance shaped around myth and magic.

KiLNE at Winter Gathering 2024 (Andrew Billington)

Throughout the afternoon, visitors can also enjoy performances from the Penkhull Mystery Singers at 4pm and Domesday Morris at 4.30pm, with live music from KiLNE, the twenty strong Stoke on Trent nu marching band led by Danny Shaw, accompanying the parade and finale.

Jenny Harper, co director of Urban Wilderness CIC, said: “There has been such an incredible buzz around the creation of this event for months in Longton. We’ve had record numbers of volunteers at our sessions and engaged with multiple new partners. The sense of what is possible in Longton has really shifted and it’s a joy to be a part of that.”

Isla Telford added: “The park is a gorgeous asset to the city and is well used by the local community. It’s a treat to be able to transform it at night with lights, fire, music and magic. We hope that families will enjoy making memories together at this free event, which is a great way to end Stoke on Trent’s centenary year.”

Domesday Morris at Winter Gathering 2024 (Andrew Billington)

Visitors can also enjoy refreshments from Aynsley Tea Rooms, Crumbs and Goodwin’s Coffee.

Cllr Lillian Dodd, chair of Queen's Park Partnership, said: “The Queen’s Park Partnership are pleased and excited to welcome this event in our park. It promises to be a really exciting event for all the family and we look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy the fun.”

More information is available atwww.urbanwildernesscic.com/winter-gathering