The Festival of Thrift is one of our favourite, north-east based festivals, and it seems that plenty of others love it too judging by how many people it attracts each year. And for their 2026 iteration, the festival is returning to Kirkleatham in Redcar once again, which is good news whichever way you look at it.

If you’ve not availed yourself of all the delights that the Festival of Thrift has brought us over the years, then you should know that it began all the way back in 2013 when Hemingway Design and developer John Orchard got together at a Darlington industrial site and dreamed up a celebration of culture, sustainability and style. And – with Creative Director extraordinaire Stella Hall at the helm – thousands came. These days, up to 50,000 people join the festival each year for a joyous two-day celebration which has a serious message at its heart, namely that it’s our duty to leave the world in a better place than we found it. As mentioned above, this year’s festival is back at the wonderful Kirkleatham site in Redcar – which is pretty much the perfect location. It’s set to run across the weekend of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, and visitors can roam the rolling grounds and enjoy a plethora of outdoor performances along with hands-on workshops, interactive installations, pre-loved fashion (always one of my fave bits), and plenty of market stalls from independent makers. In short: it’s all about living well, getting inspired, and caring for our planet – all while having as much fun as you possibly can (and, trust me, there’s a lot of fun to be had at these events).

Visitors can also expect to enjoy a real smorgasbord of Thrifty favourites (including one of the most beloved parts of the festival, ‘Best in Show’) along with plenty of surprises to boot. And all ages are catered for: whether you love crafting, dressing up, or discovering new ways of treading lightly on this planet, the festival is full of opportunities to get involved. And, hey, if you’d like to get really involved, then the Thrift team are currently looking for volunteers to be part of this year’s festival – whether you’re a thrifter, grafter or DIY enthusiast, or simply someone who loves to help, the Festival of Thrift is the perfect place for fun-loving folks to come together and make that festival magic happen.

Co-Creative Director Tanya Steinhauser said: “When the opportunity arose to return to our roots in Kirkleatham, we couldn’t resist! The site is even better for Thrift than before, and has already inspired so many ideas to shape the Festival and even creative opportunities outside of it.”

Co-Creative Director Dominic Somers added: “We are delighted that Redcar and Cleveland are investing in community through the arts and environment. It is more vital than ever, especially in the Tees Valley, to honour the legacy of industry and step into a greener, gentler and more equal future. We’ll be making further announcements about the festival programme over the next few weeks so make sure you keep an eye out.”

The Festival of Thrift, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, Kirkleatham, Redcar, Tees Valley, free to attend. To find out more about the festival – including information about volunteering – visit their website: festivalofthrift.co.uk. You can also follow the festival’s social media feeds: @festivalofthrift on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads.