Multi award-winning Festival of Thrift returns to Redcar THIS weekend

Organisers confirm they have “worked very hard” to provide an “amazing” programme for the FREE to enter weekend festival, including a brand-new launch parade to take place on Friday evening.

2017’s Best Event Teesside the Festival of Thrift returns to the grounds of Kirkleatham Museum this weekend, offering both seasoned ‘thrifters’ and those new to the way of sustainable living a wealth of performances, entertainment and activities to enjoy.

The ever-popular festival, which is returning for its sixth-year, attracted over 45,000 visitors last year and it’s expected thousands will again choose to explore the ten zones, with events happening both inside and outside of the expansive grounds of the Grade II museum which dates back to 1709.

Spanning the weekend, with events running from 10pm to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, there’s also something brand-new to kick off this year’s festivities on the evening before, as Festival Director Stella Hall explains;

“This year also sees our first-ever launch parade for the Festival which invites people to
‘Be Thrifty, Be Happy’ for a fun and entertaining spectacle that will enhance the feel-good atmosphere of Thrift.”

The parade, the result of months of work and involving a wide range of participants from the local community, will feature quirky cardboard creations by Russian company Cardboardia and starts at 6:30pm at the Community Heart on Coatham Road before heading to the seafront, ending at the bandstand for a musical finale.

Live music, great food and a whole lot more

With a wide and varied live music selection across the two-days, an array of independent traders and food providers, including vegan and vegetarian offerings, there’s sure to be something at #thriftfest to please every one’s tastes.

And there’s plenty more that the festival has to offer, with a full programme of interactive workshops, activities, talks, arts exhibits and more that includes returning favourites and soon to be new ones.

The BBC is returning to the festival this year, with the CBBC ‘Teepees’ that includes VR content allowing audiences young and old to step inside Doctor Who’s Tardis and Teesside University will hold its first Expo at the event featuring the world's first student project to put a rocket into space. 

Further selected highlights include the opportunity to build a go-cart using reclaimed materials, bring your electronic junk to see them up-cycled into noisy instruments and the chance to learn skills in the arts of blacksmithing, Swedish birch bark weaving and garland making.

Explaining the dedicated effort in putting together this years festival line-up, Stella Hall explained, “we’ve worked very hard to make it different again for visitors” before continuing;

“This year offers another amazing Festival of Thrift programme.

"We are proud to work with local and national artists and makers, community foundations, educational establishments and businesses to have created it together.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming people to our much-loved event.”

Workshop tickets available for this weekend. Make, bake, cook & create. https://t.co/0QZQLaAObQ #redcar #thriftfest #enjoyteesvalley #sustainableliving #craft #workshops pic.twitter.com/nAIqMBbHSG

— Festival of Thrift (@ThriftFest) September 17, 2018

Getting to the Festival

As part of the event’s thrifty aims, those making their way to the festival are encouraged to do so by public transport where possible.

A bus service (81 and 81A) will be running from Redcar Central Station every 10 minutes, with full details of available train routes and times available from Northern Rail; 

www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/RCC

The festival also offers plentiful cycle parking on site with the Kirkleathum site directly connected to the National Cycle Network.

Car-parking is available on site at a charge of £5 per vehicle.

There is also the option of camping on site for the Saturday evening, priced at £25 or £18 for under 18’s. This price includes car parking and entry to the Picnic Cinema open air film screening, which will be showing Moulin Rouge at dusk.

Tickets to Saturday’s post-festival screening without camping are also available priced at £15 or £10 for under 18’s.

For more details about whats on and when go to #thriftfest website: www.festivalofthrift.co.uk or access their social media pages: 

Facebook: @festivalofthrift
Twitter: @ThriftFest
Instagram: festivalofthrift