Stoke-on-Trent families are invited to join Stoke Reads at a series of free mini family ‘Tales in the Park’ festivals across the city this summer.
Taking place at local parks, the mini festivals are perfect for families with children aged 0 to 11. The event at Bucknall Park is ideal for families with children aged 0 to 5 and is delivered in partnership with Thrive at Five.
Tales in the Park will be taking place at:
- Tunstall Park on Friday 29 July, 11am – 3pm
- Burslem Park on Tuesday 2 August, 11am – 3pm
- Yeaman Street Recreation Ground on Friday 5 August, 11am – 3pm
- Fenton Park on Tuesday 9 August, 11am – 3pm
- Hanley Park on Friday 12 August, 11am – 3pm
- Longton Park on Tuesday 16 August, 11am – 3pm
- Bucknall Park on Friday 19 August, 11am–3pm: perfect for younger children
With the generous support of HarperCollins, children attending will be gifted a free children's book to take home. Families will also be treated to storytelling from local storyteller Alan Barrett, drawing sessions from local illustrators, face-painting, crafts, pop-up sports and skills and more.*
There will be visits from local friends and organisations including the Little Library Van, where children can sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge, Endon Stormtroopers, the Canal & River Trust, SOT Mothers' Support Network, Circus in a Box, and the YMCA.
Tales in the Park events are free to attend and sign up is not required. Families can find out more here and can sign up to receive Facebook reminders on the Stoke Reads Facebook events page.
“I am very excited to welcome Stoke families to our Tales in the Park mini festivals this summer. With lots of fun activities to take part in, free books up for grabs and opportunity to join the Summer Reading Challenge with Stoke Libraries, we hope to inspire families to fall in love with stories and reading this summer. Huge thanks goes to our friends and partners joining us or providing books and resources for Tales in the Park – their valuable support allows us to excite and inspire hundreds of families across the city to engage with literacy.”
Lois Bateman, Stoke Reads Hub Manager
Tales in the Park has been organised by Stoke Reads – our local campaign supported by Arts Council England – to inspire children to enjoy reading and support parents to encourage their children’s literacy skills through the summer holidays and beyond.
With funding from Arts Council England, Stoke Reads has also been supported by Youth Champions to deliver Tales in the Park as part of their work with the YES partnership.
* Free books available one per child and while stocks last. Activities and organisations attending may vary between events.