SIRF is back this summer to entertain and delight!

The spectacular Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) returns this summer, promising fun and exciting entertainment for all the family.

The internationally renowned festival will once again be wowing crowds in Stockton Town Centre with a jam-packed programme from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 August.

SIRF 23 brings together some of the best street theatre, dance, music and outdoor arts, with more than 150 shows taking place over the weekend which are all free to enjoy.

For the first time this year our dramatic launch show moves to the Friday, when street theatre company, Cie Bivouac, will perform their breathtaking show Perceptions at 7pm on the High Street. Expect to be mesmerized whilst you are invited to dream of other realities.

A repeat performance on Saturday night at 9.30pm will give you a chance to see it after dark.

But the festival gets underway with a special welcome party on Stockton High Street from 5pm on Thursday with everyone invited!

'Alive after 5' features a range of street performers and the return of SIRF Green - the space for tasty eats and garden seats to get you warmed up for the weekend.

Back by popular demand, SIRF Green will once again provide the perfect place to sit and chat with family and friends and enjoy some time-out between shows. And this year it will appear in Trinity Green on the Sunday too!

One show at SIRF 23 is even powered completely by solar energy! Squidsoup's the Power of Art, will be at Trinity Church over the four days.

The much-loved SIRF Community Carnival returns on the Sunday for a day-long celebration with the procession setting off at 2pm from its traditional start point on Church Road. From schools to local community and health and wellbeing groups plus music and dance groups, even more people are taking part this year so come along to clap, sing and cheer the vibrant procession as it makes its way through Stockton High Street to Trinity Green.

Then visitors and carnival-goers can stick around and party, enjoying some family fun, including workshops, live music, dance and live shows before the amazing aerial finale at 9.30pm.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: "SIRF is the Borough's hugely popular signature event and I know the festival's return this summer will be welcomed by all.

"As always SIRF will give our residents and visitors plenty of opportunity to celebrate with Stockton High Street, Trinity Green and Parish Gardens coming alive with music, dancing, and the joyous sound of communities getting together.

"And after enjoying four days of fun, family entertainment make sure not to miss Sunday's dramatic finale on Trinity Green - a truly spectacular high flying acrobatic show Pigments from CirkVOST, taking place 15 metres above ground!

"SIRF 23 promises to be another truly memorable festival, so keep your diary free from August 3 to August 6 and your eyes peeled for more SIRF announcements coming soon!"

For more information, visit the SIRF website  

SIRF is a National Portfolio Organisation supported and funded by Arts Council England.

For Council news direct to your inbox sign up to our My Council Newsletter.