Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade set to return for 2026
By Liana Snape 8th Apr 2026
The Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade is set to return to the Stoke-on-Trent town this month.
The annual event, produced by Urban Wilderness CIC, will take place on Sunday 26 April from 10am to 4pm.
Alongside the parade, visitors will also be able to enjoy live music and the Longton Artisan and Cultural Fair.
The fair will feature artisan stalls selling handmade gifts as well as food and refreshments.
The parade will begin in on The Strand, before taking a left on the second Berry Lane and will return through the mall to Transport Lane.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has explained that there will be some disruption to the roads on the day to accommodate the parade.
During the event The Strand and all side streets which come onto The Strand will be closed.
This includes Heathcote Road, Endensor Rd, Transport Lane and Berry Lane.
The following diversion route will be in place: Market Street, Commerce Street, Over the A50, right along the Longton Exchange to Tesco Roundabout, right down Baths Road.
The organisers of the event have also noted that parts of Longton Exchange Car Park (ST3 2PF) will not be available on Carnival Day due to the fun fair rides.
The parade celebrates a true story from the 1880s when the Mayor of Longton, John Aynsley, successfully walked a pig from Trentham to Longton to win a bet with the Duke of Sutherland.
As a result, Aynsley won the land to create Queen's Park and the money to build Longton Cottage Hospital.
Urban Wilderness CIC, who recently organised The Winter Gathering in Queen's Park, are also leading Longton's bid for UK Town of Culture.
The carnival is supported by the Longton community and funded by Arts Council England, The National Lottery Community Fund, UK Community Foundations and Stoke-on-Trent City Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund funded by UK Government.
To find out more about the Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade, and how to get involved, visit the website here.
Take a look at some more photographs of the event in 2025 here.
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