A free community carnival is bringing traditional Caribbean celebrations to a Stoke-on-Trent park this weekend.

The Six Towns Carnival will be bringing a carnival parade, sound systems, steel pan music, break-dancing, craft workshops and world food to Hanley Park on Sunday 12 July.

With the motto 'Connecting Through Culture', the carnival aims to celebrate community, culture, and the city of Stoke-on-Trent with a programme of events from 11am to 7pm.

Sarah Chevolleau, Director of SABLE - which is leading Six Towns Reloaded - said: "Six Towns Carnival was the highlight of my summer as a child growing up in Stoke and it's an honour to carry on the tradition of Carnival.

"My motivation in sustaining Six Towns Carnival is to create those memories for the next generation of children. "

The Main Stage will be headlined by STUSH, an influential British rapper known for her powerhouse vocals and dancehall energy.

Other acts such as Harvstar, Antidote and SCDC Dance School will celebrate regional reggae, rap, songwriting and dance with a focus on highlighting local young talent.

The 'Local and Live' open mic featuring McRagga, will also give other vistors a chance to showcase their talent.

Other activities include the return of Warwick's funfairs as well as workshops such as Breakin' Foundations and Spoken Word Playground presented by Appetite, Craft with B-arts and Cultural Zebra, Our Time, Our Place, Our Heritage workshops with The BCB, dance with Indian Fusion, carnival costumes with Deb Rogers and Mexican Art with The Navel of the Moon.

The Literacy Trust will also be celebrating the National Year of Reading with storyteller Alan Barrett.

Originally called Sunday in the Park, Carnival celebrations have been held in Stoke-on-Trent since 1997.

Isla Telford, Event Manager and Co-Director of Urban Wilderness, says: "I've been proud to support this long-standing and culturally important event for Stoke -on-Trent for the last five years and it's a delight to see it grow in strength and status.

"We've been very lucky to be able to offer it for free with thanks to Arts Council England and Stoke Creates. Long may it continue."

Stoke-on-Trent schools have had special assemblies to learn the significance of carnival and community groups have been working with local artists from Kwanzaa Collective UK to make carnival costumes to join the parade in the park.

This year the theme for the parade - which will leave the pavillion at 3.15pm - is Ancestral Voices.

The parade will host award winning regional troupes such as Mass Invasion alongside local performance groups The Performance School and Leek Day of The Dead. Led by Muraldo DC, there will be a mass dance to the Soca song 'Hot Hot Hot' after the parade.

Gabriella Gay, Artistic Director and founder of Kwanzaa Collective UK, says: "The theme this year helps us to think of our history, and ancestry. It tells stories of resistance, migration, and the coming together of diverse cultures in the city.

"As a Trinidadian by birth but someone who was made by my life in Stoke-on-Trent, I believe it's an honour to bring Caribbean Carnival traditions to the next generation. Carnival is the celebration of unity and joyous resilience in difficult circumstances.

"We are excited that Stoke's Mayor will join us. Our Carnival features a wide range of community groups, and we incorporate visual tributes to ancestors across Africa, The Caribbean, India and around the world, whilst honouring Stoke's heritage and people."

Six Towns Reloaded is led by SABLE and organised by the coming together of a range of organisations including Cultural Zebra, Brickhouse Events and Catering, Urban Wilderness CIC, Ignition Entertainment and Kwanzaa Collective UK CIC.

The event organisers have asked families to plan their travel to avoid on-street parking around Hanley Park.

Paid parking is available at Hinde Street Car Park and Staffordshire University Car Park, a short walk away in Hanley, or travel by public transport.

The organisers also explained that the event is a family-focused event with no alcohol for sale and alcohol consumption discouraged.

To find out more about the event, visit the Facebook page here.