Things to do this weekend in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire (March 17/18)

">McFly, the chart-topping four-piece, who will be playing the Victoria Hall in Hanley on Saturday. Expect a lively gig with band members who seem to be just as adept in the spheres of Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here as in the world of making surprisingly sharp, non-cheesy pop-punk.

If you loved the Crufts dog show last weekend, then you will be interested in

">The Potteries & District Dog Show which takes place on Saturday at the County Showground in Stafford. Click the link for prices and times.

The Stafford Gatehouse's MET theatre is holding its regular Comedy at The MET night on Saturday starting at 8pm. Tickets are £10.

For fans of the stadium rock sound of the mighty Freddie Mercury and Queen then it's worth going along to The Box in Crewe. QEII: Freddie Mercury And Queen Tribute will playing hits from the band, starting from 8.30pm. Another act, The Jamm: Tribute To The Jam, are also playing on the night.

Saturday will the final night of the Stoke Repertory Players latest production, Here I Sit All Alone, I Think I'll Play My Xylophone. There are two shows at Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre in Leek Road, Stoke, starting at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and tickets are £9, with discounts for students.

For those who prefer their music a little sharper, pop along to The Sugarmill instead and watch The Milk, an indie-pop band from Wickford. In support are Sea-based Turtles, a rhythm'n'blues and soul-tinged four-piece from Essex fronted by Ricky Nunn. Tickets are £6.

An up-to-date re-telling of the classical animal tales of Aesop's Fables is on at the Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford on Saturday, featuring the stories of the mouse, the lion and the tortoise. Starts at 1pm, tickets are £7.50, concs £6, family £24.

Sunday - Mother's Day

Of course, it's Mother's Day on Sunday and there are plenty of places in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

to treat your mum.

For somewhere a little more unusual, Twycross Zoo might be an ideal venue for a Mother's Day day out. A package for the day is £16.95 including a meal. Booking is essential. The zoo is also staging a Mother's Day card making workshop between 12noon and 1pm. The event is free, but you need to bring you own old cards and wrapping paper.

For those with children interested in Bob The Builder, there's a live show with music adapted the Cbeebies TV show at the Regent Theatre in Hanley on Sunday, starting at 1pm. The show tells the story of how Bob and his friends get Fixham Theatre ready in time for opening night. Tickets for Bob The Builder: Live are priced £15.50-£18.50.

Sport

DEPENDING on your perspective, there are two big sporting events with local interest this weekend.

On Saturday, Uttoxeter Racecourse will host the Midland Grand National, an event which often provides a hint to the best prospects at the Grand National in May.

Around 214 horses have been entered, including local prospect West End Rocker, and the racecourse expects another record-breaking crowds in attendance. Gates open at 11am.

On Sunday, Stoke City will take on Liverpool in the FA Cup Quarter Finals.

Port Vale are away at Crawley Town and Crewe Alexandra will continue their pursuit of a play-off place at home to Swindon Town.

Voucher deals

The Best Western Moat House on Festival Park is offering a voucher for a three-course Mother's Day carvery, gift for mum and a children's entertainer, all for £13.95 per adult, £6.95 per child.

Just finishing your plans for what to plant in the garden? SAP Supplies in Cobridge has a range of discount vouchers available, including great deals on golden gravel as well as 10 per cent off everything in store.

We don't seem to have too many entries for ways of celebrating St Patrick's Day at the moment, so please feel free to add your comment for events that people might be interested in.

UPDATE: Here's some of the suggestions on Twitter:

And remember: if you've got an event that you would like to see in our weekly guide, go to the What's on

section and create an event.