We headed down to Queen's Park in Longton for the Winter Gathering 2025 by Urban Wilderness CIC, and it was genuinely lovely to see just how many people turned up for a free, local event that anyone could enjoy.
The park was busy without being overwhelming, full of families, friends and people of all ages coming together as the lantern parade made its way through. Glowing lanterns lit the paths, and we were treated to the brilliant phoenix, the minotaur, and so many beautifully made creatures moving through the park as night fell.
This is exactly what events like this are about, using our shared green spaces, bringing creativity out into the open, and making it accessible to everyone, without tickets, barriers or pressure to spend money. Just turn up, enjoy it, and be part of something special happening right on your doorstep.
It was great to see Queen's Park so full of life, light and community, especially at this time of year. It is one of my favourite green spaces in Stoke-on-Trent. If you were there, could you let me know what you saw and what you loved most?
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