Easter events in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
From beer festivals to Easter bunny hunts, there is an eclectic range of events happening in Staffordshire over the holidays.
Whether you are looking to put your feet up, let your hair down, or spend a day or two with the family there is something for everyone.
Many of the county’s historic estates and country homes are pulling out all the stops with an array of seasonal activities.
These include an Easter trail at the Trentham Estate, a chance to feed the lambs at Shugborough Hall and craft workshops at Stafford Castle.
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But the Easter-inspired activity that really takes the biscuit this April is happening at Alton Towers.
The theme park has teamed up with Fox’s Biscuits and food artists Bompas and Parr to create a 32-foot-tall chocolate climbing tower inspired by the Rocky biscuit bar.
The tower, which also features a four-tonne chocolate waterfall is available to try and conquer from April 10-15 and will be launched by popstar Peter Andre.
For more information on Alton Towers plus our pick of some of the top events and attractions in Staffordshire this Easter check out our list below.
Easter in Staffordshire
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Trentham Estate, Stone Rd, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8AX, 01782 646646.
- Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford ,ST16 1DJ, 01785 257698
- Alton Towers, Alton, ST10 4DB, 0871 702 7043
- Shugborough Hall, Shugborough Estate, Stafford, ST17 0XB, 01889 881388.
- Blackbrook Zoological Park, Leek, ST13 7QR, 01538 308293.
- Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Country Park, Pool Road, Nr. Brownhills, WS8 7NL, 01543 452 623/ 01543 682 854.
- Weston Park, Weston-Under-Lizard, 01952 852100.
- Emma Bridgewater Factory, Lichfield Street, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, 01782 201328.
- The National Brewery Centre, Horninglow Street, Burton upon Trent, DE14 1NG, 01283 532880.
- Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Eastgate Street, Stafford, ST16 2LT, 01785 254653.
Easter Special: Easter trail and craft activities.
Suitable For: Families/All ages.
When: Estate opening times: Gardens 10am-4pm (3.30pm South Entrance). Monkey Forest 10am-4.30pm, weekends. Aerial Extreme 10.30am-1.30pm
Price: Aerial Extreme: adults £25, children £20. Monkey Forest: adults £7.50 children £5.50 Trentham Estate: adults £6.10, children £4.75.
From taking a miniature train ride, to meeting 140 free-roaming primates in the Monkey Forest there is something for everyone Trentham this Easter.
Children can tackle the adventure play area or take the Easter trail while adults can stroll though the idyllic gardens, go on a shopping spree or even get to grips with the high wire adventure course.
There are also boat trips, a maze, wilderness survival skills and a first-rate cafe.
Easter Special: Chick hunt and craft workshops.
Suitable For: Families/All ages.
When: April 8, 11am-4pm.
Price: Free.
Enjoy a range of festive Easter activities with a day at the iconic Stafford Castle.
On April 8 the 900-year-old building is lowering its drawbridge for a family fun day that includes a ‘hunt the Easter chicks’ competition, children’s craft workshops, and a colouring competition.
Easter Special: The Mount Rocky Challenge, the world’s first chocolate-based climbing wall.
Suitable For: Families/All ages.
When: Theme park open 10am-6pm.The Mount Rocky Challenge April 10-15.
Price: Save up to 25% by booking online (terms and conditions apply). Online prices: Adults from £31.50, children from £25.20 and families from £25.20 per person.
The UK’s favourite theme park is back open for 2012 with an array of new attractions.
These include an Ice Age 4D experience and the new indoor horror ride Nemesis Sub Terra.
And from April 10-15 only the park brings you Mount Rocky, the world’s first chocolate climbing wall.
Brought to you by Fox’s biscuits’ Rocky chocolate bar you plunge down a 32foot real chocolate watrerfall before taking on the 32foot chocolatey cliff-face.
On April 10 pop star Peter Andre will also be in attendance to test out his skills and meet fellow thrill-seekers.
Easter Special: Easter trails, craft activities and family fun day.
Suitable For: Families/all ages.
When: 11am-5pm daily, family fun day April 9.
Price: Tickets for the whole estate, adults £15 (£12.50 in advance), concession £12 (£10.50 in advance), child £9 (£7.50 in advance). Family tickets also available.
The Shugborough Estate is getting into the festive spirit this Easter with a whole host of special events.
You can follow an Easter trail, have ago at baking and craft activities and even feed the newborn lambs.
On April 9 the estate is holding a family fun day that includes a performance from the Stone Town Band and a chance to have a go at some authentic Victorian games.
And on top of the Easter fun all of Shugborough’s usual attractions are open as usual, including its stunning parkland, mansion house and working servant’s quarters.
Easter Special: Easter egg hunt and pottery painting.
Suitable For: Families/all ages.
When: Zoo open daily 10am-5.30pm (last admission 4pm).
Price: Adults £9.96, concessions £7.95, children £6.50, family (2 adults, 2 children) £29.95. Prices inclusive of Gift Aid.
From penguins to warty pigs there are all sorts of wonderful creatures on view at Blackbrook Zoo.
The largest bird park in the UK, it boasts more than 300 species including a colourful collection of pink flamingos, spoonbills and scarlet ibises that are all housed in the one eye-catching aviary.
Other new developments include an indoor flight aviary where visitors can experience birds flying just over their heads.
The Zoo also has one of the finest penguin enclosures in Europe with an underwater viewing cave as well as number of small mammals including meerkats and monkeys.
For the Easter holidays you can have a go at the special Easter egg hunt with a chocolatey prize for all participants.
Easter Special: Easter egg hunt, quiz and trains running.
Suitable For: Children of all ages.
When: Easter egg hunt, April 8 and 9, 11am-4pm. Trains running April 6-9, 12, 14 and 15.
Price: Adults £3.95, children 5-15 and senior citizens £2.95, family (2 adults and up to 2 children) £9.95.
With Easter egg hunts for the children and train rides that the whole family will enjoy, a visit to the Chasewater Railway is a guaranteed good day out this Easter.
Sit back and relax as the steam train chugs through the picturesque countryside on a relaxing 4mile round-trip that takes around 45minutes.
And after your journeyy why not take in the museum or treat yourself to a cake and a cuppa from the excellent Sidings traditional tearoom at Brownhills West station.
Easter Special: Easter trail and transport show.
Suitable For: Families/all ages.
When: Easter trail April 7, transport show April 8 and 9.
Price: Easter trail £1.Transport show April 8 £8 adults, £3 children, April 9 adults £7, children £3.
With fun fairs, chocolate egg trails and classic cars there is something for everyone at Weston Park over the Easter weekend.
The fun kicks off on April 7 with the Easter trail and all the estate’s usual attractions including an adventure playground and a chance to view the house’s famous art collection.
But it is the annual transport show on April 8 and 9 that is set to bring visitors flocking to the park. The event includes vintage cars of all shapes and sizes as well as tractors and military vehicles.
There will also be arena displays from the Piston Rings Youth Motorcycle team.
Easter Special: Easter trail, factory tours and pottery decorating.
Suitable For: Families/all ages.
When: Open 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and Friday 10am-4pm.
Price: Tours £2.50, decorating £2.95 up front (additional cost per piece).
Continuing the county’s rich heritage for stylish ceramics, Emma Bridgwater’s factory has also become a top-class tourist attraction.
Over the holidays children wearing Easter bonnets get free decorating time and there is also an egg trail and chance to see real-life fluffy chicks.
Older visitors can also try their hand at decorating as well as enjoying tours of the factory and lunch in the on-site cafe. And if you are looking for a special Easter present then you are guaranteed to find any number of great gifts in the shop.
Easter Special: Easter beer and food festival and carvery.
Suitable For: Adults/families.
When: April 7-9. Food festival 10am-5pm and from 7.30pm, April 7.
Price: Food festival £5, Saturday night concert £8. Carvery £6.95, children £4.50.
If you are a fan of real ales and fantastic food then head to the National Brewery Centre over Easter.
The centre is holding a three-day food and drink festival complete with live music and an array of activities to keep the kids out of trouble.
As well as a wide range of cask ales and local produce there will also be classic cars, steam engines and a chance to take a dray ride with shire horses Monty and Carling.
Children’s entertainment includes a bouncy castle, face-painting and an Easter egg hunt.
And if you are looking to let your hair down over the holidays then don’t miss the Saturday night concert from 7.30pm.
Easter Special: Live comedy.
Suitable For: Adults.
When: April 7.
Price: £12, £10 concessions. (booking advisable).
The Stafford Gatehouse is the place to be if you are looking for a laughter-filled way to kick-off the Easter celebrations.
Top stand-up comedians Terry Alderton and Jeremy Hardy are both playing gigs at the venue on Easter Saturday
Alderton was most recently seen on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief and was The Sun’s number one comedian of last year.
The venue is also hosting an eclectic range of other events over the holidays including children’s show The Little Big Club on April 6 and a burlesque show on April 14.
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