A carnival in Longton celebrating a quirky true story from Stoke-on-Trent's past is back for a third time - and you can get involved. 

The Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade brought 20,000 people into the town last year and organisers are looking for volunteers to help make the event a success once again. 

Organised by Urban Wilderness CIC, this year's event is promised to be bigger, brighter and blooming with spring flowers and teams of creative volunteers are already busy creating props to make the event a success. 

Creative volunteer sessions are taking place at The Moony Club at the Longton Exchange ahead of the event on 6 April. (Nub News)

The parade celebrates a true story from the 1880s when the Mayor of Longton, John Aynsley, successfully drove 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.

Laurel Gallagher, co-director of Urban Wilderness CIC, said: "The carnival is all about community, it is made by people for people to celebrate so it is really important that people come down and help with the making. 

"We make props that are going to cover Longton town in bright colours and flowers. 

"We're bringing bright colours, joy and celebration to the streets so we've got big yellow flowers that the team are making and lovely clouds with rainbows that our creative makers made last year. 

"When we first started out we were continually told that not much happens around here and it has just grown and grown. 

"Around 10,000 people turned up in our first year which was a massive boost to and encouraged us to do it again. 

"Each year it gets bigger and brighter and we do have some surprises planned this year." 

The organisation's creative volunteers meet at The Moony Club at the Longton Exchange. (Nub News)

Featuring performance stages, live music, a funfair, street food and an artisan market, the event will include the spectacular Pig Walk parade – complete with a giant pig puppet called Jolly – at 3pm. The parade will again be led by Stoke-on-Trent-based contemporary nu-marching band KiLNE.

Urban Wilderness CIC are appealing for volunteers to help make at least 100 foam flowers to decorate the town. 

Free forget-me-not making kits are available to collect from their HQ, The Moony Club, in Longton Exchange on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 10am and 12pm.

There is also the opportunity for people to dress in carnival costume and be part of the Pig Walk Parade. 

The organisation's team of creative volunteers, who meet every Wednesday 10am to 12pm and every other Friday 7pm to 9pm, are currently making bunting and giant sunflowers to decorate the town.

Creative volunteer, Julie Oxberry, said: "The community involvement attracted me to this. It is good for socialisation so people don't feel isolated and you get such a range of different people here.

"My first pig walk was last year which I found very entertaining and you need a lot of energy for the day but it is nice to see everything come together. 

"The reaction to the last pig walk was incredible. People were saying it is nice to see the town centre used for something and it is such a nice thing to be part of."

Organisers are also looking to fill volunteer roles including parade stewards, support for performances, artists and workshops. 

Those interested in volunteering on the day of Carnival can register their interest here for a training session on Saturday 29 March where organisers will provide all the information needed.

Alternatively, to discuss any of the opportunities to get involved can contact Val at [email protected].

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