Festival of Thrift's free and fun-filled weekend heading back to Billingham

It's less than a month to go until Festival of Thrift brings its renowned celebration of sustainability, creativity and community spirit back to Billingham in the Tees Valley.

Over the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September Billingham town centre and John Whitehead Park will play host to the festival's signature mix of outdoor arts performances, live music, enlightening talks, playful installations and over 100 stalls selling goods from north east artisan businesses.

A packed schedule of free activities from 11am to 5pm each day is part of a diverse and captivating programme that promises something for everybody.

Across the festival site visitors will find performances and free workshops in The Imagined Meadow area, activities focused on the natural world in The Allotment Patch, crafting and storytelling in Camp Thrift, slow fashion shows and stalls in Slow Fashion Alley, performances in the Bandstand, and Festival of Thrift's famous Fix-it Café in Billingham Library. Ethically-produced goods, food and drink will be on sale from a host of stalls located around the site.

Renowned designer and Festival of Thrift Co-founder Wayne Hemingway MBE will also return to speak at the festival and present a series of Best In Show thrifted fashion awards.

Tanya Steinhauser, Festival of Thrift Co-Creative Director, expressed her enthusiasm for the event's return to Billingham: "We are so delighted to be returning to Billingham, for the variety of space, people and history it offers. It's going to be a joyous weekend. People will get to explore previous favourites like Best in Show for the stylish and fashion-forward thrifties but also experience plenty of new surprises, especially for fans of all things retro."

"This year we're also excited to be partnering with Base Camp Industries for the first time who will be bringing in fantastic local and regional musicians," she said.

"Don't miss this exceptional weekend celebrating sustainability, creativity, and community spirit. Festival of Thrift's return to Billingham promises to be an unforgettable experience for both newcomers and long-term thrifties alike."

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: "We're thrilled to be welcoming back Festival of Thrift to Billingham town centre and once again we are expecting thousands of visitors from the Borough and beyond when the festival arrives next month. With so many performances, talks and stalls, there'll be fun for the whole family whilst also having the opportunity to learn more about the very important messages on sustainability. It's going to be an amazing weekend, so make sure your diary is free on September 21 and 22!"

Highlights of the packed programme planned for the weekend include:

The Imagined Meadow area (John Whitehead Park) 

Performances and free workshops including:

• weave through the playful interactive artwork 100 Miles of String by Leap then Look in its Northern debut
• the playful and surreal antics of TRUTH! By Ramshacklicious and Hijinx
• revisit your favourite arcade games for real with Actual Reality Arcade
• making movie magic with Blockbuster Factory by Cat and Mouse Theatre

The Allotment Patch area (John Whitehead Park) 

Performances, hands-on workshops, demos and insightful talks focused on the beauty and importance of the natural world, sustainable food production, biodiversity and the joy of nurturing nature's bounty including:

• interactive storytelling and dance performances with the amazing Sonia Sabri Company
• a big-hearted journey through food, dance, live music, songs and tales from around the world with TOAST by Pif-Paf Theatre

Camp Thrift area (John Whitehead Park)

Crafting and storytelling including:

• a family-friendly craft along performance adventure BOXVILLE by Cardboard Adventures
• build your very own den with recycled and reusable materials

Slow Fashion Alley (Billingham Town Centre) 

An area filled with sustainable and slow fashion, swap shop, repairs and mending including:

• the glamorous family catwalk extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous a dance, fashion and lip sync competition, where the audience decides the winner
• a series of future facing fashion shows, 'Conscious Threads' by Creative Producer Abigail Dennison
• best in show awards for those who have dressed to impress in their finest thrifty attire, vintage treasures, and sustainable gems
• charity shop supermarket pop up - a curated collection of fashion and accessories from the UK's best charity retailers
• swapshop by Teesside Hospice - make thrifty swaps for any unwanted fashion items and accessories
• handmade, second-hand, upcycled and stylish shopping with a conscience from an eclectic mix of traders selling alternatives to fast fashion

Bandstand (Town Centre)

Performances include:

• music by the vibrant brass band on stilts act Fat Cat Brass and singing by the boundary pushing Commoners Choir
• everything comes Full Circle with an intriguing performance by Avanti Display

Billingham Library, (Billingham Town Centre) including:

• fixing anything from Flymos to iPads and teasmades to tape recorders at Festival of Thrift's famous Fix It Café

Acts and artists will also be popping up around the site throughout the weekend including the mad delights by Markmark Productions' Maniax, the Great Fiasco and their Team BGee celebratory street spectacular, a special DJ set showcasing The Fab Four like you've never heard before with the Beatles Dub Club, WE Great Ladies' Habadashery Gals spreading magic and joy.

Stalls selling ethically-produced goods, food and drink will be located around the site.

Festival of Thrift takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September 2024, 11am to 5pm, in Billingham, Tees Valley. Entry is free. The site is easily accessible by foot, bike and public transport. Parking is available including a park and ride option and a pre-bookable ticket per car via the festival's website.

Festival of Thrift is funded and sponsored by Arts Council England, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Thirteen Housing, Evolve Estates and Education Training Collective. For more information visit the Festival of Thrift's website or follow the festival's social media feeds @festivalofthrift on Facebook and Instagram and @FestoThrift on X/Twitter.

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