Stoke-on-Trent's city centre will be filled with roaming entertainment, carnival games and costumes, as the Big Halloween Street Party returns.

Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID's family-friendly Halloween celebration will once again be filling the streets of Hanley on Saturday 31 October from 11am to 5pm.

Visitors to the free event can expect a "packed programme" of performances and roaming entertainment from Circus in a Box and B-Arts, as well as carnival style games, workshops and crafts.

A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID said: "Stoke-on-Trent city centre is set to get spooktacular once again this Halloween as a day of family-friendly entertainment, live performances, street theatre and artisanal shopping returns on Saturday 31 October."

The street party will be jointed by the Potteries Artisan Market, which will bring a range of independent stallholders to Upper Market Square.

The costume parade will return for 2026. It is due to begin at 2:30pm by the blue clock before making its way through The Potteries Centre.

The Halloween celebration this year will also feature a new 'Potteries Poltergeist' window trail for young people to take part in, which started on 26 October and will run until 31 October.

The trail invites families to explore the city centre and uncover a collection of mysterious characters inspired by local history and Potteries folklore.

It is to be illustrated by local artist Chloe Breeze, who was named the 'Young Business Person of the Year' at the 2023 University of Staffordshire business awards.

Sarah Thomas-Gordon, Marketing Manager at Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID said:

"We want to give families another reason to get out and explore the city centre this half term.

"To do so in the form of a brand new window trail brings together everything we love about the city centre: our heritage, creativity, independent businesses and a healthy dose of Halloween mischief."

There will be characters hidden across seven windows in the Cultural Quarter.

The first character unveiled - 'Stokie' the Kiln Stoker - can be found at Drop City Books, of 74-47 Piccadilly, which is also the location where trail participants collect and submit their completed trail guides.

Drop City Books joins Two Doors Down, Vision Personalised Gifts, Aynsley Insurance, Vellichor Books, Goodchilds Estate Agents and Bottlecraft, who are also participating in the trail.

Participants who complete the trail will have the chance to win one of five prizes ranging in value from £10 to £100.

To find out more about the event or details of the competition, visit the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID website here.