The Festival of Thrift will return to Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds this year with a free two-day family event which will attract visitors from across the country.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has secured the nationally recognised festival to stage the event for this year and next.
The festival took place previously at Kirkleatham between 2016 and 2022, attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors to each of the events.
Now the festival will return on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 with its distinctive free weekend of arts, craft, performance, fashion, food, traders, workshops and sustainability.
Each year, the festival attracts between 25,000 and 40,000 visitors from all over the UK, creating a significant positive impact on the local economy and providing a vibrant platform for local traders, makers, food producers, artists and organisations.
In addition to festivals in 2026 and 2027, the two-year deal will also give festival organisers the opportunity to work more closely with local people, businesses, artists and communities across Redcar and Cleveland.
Alongside the annual summer celebration, the team will be developing playful, creative activities and projects throughout the year, all based on imagining a greener, fairer and more joyful future together.
Cllr Alec Brown, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said:
“Bringing the nationally renowned Festival of Thrift back to Redcar and Cleveland has been one of our priorities and I’m absolutely delighted that we will host it again.
“The number of visitors it attracts shows it is hugely valued and it brings real cultural and economic benefits, supporting local businesses, artists and traders while attracting tens of thousands of people to see what our fantastic borough has to offer.
“We look forward to local people, businesses and artists getting involved with the festival and receiving the benefit from both the fantastic event and the work which will go on away from it.”
Wayne Hemingway MBE, Founder and Board Member of Festival of Thrift, said:
"Kirkleatham holds a very special place in the heart of Festival of Thrift. From 2016 to our 10th anniversary in 2022, it became a true home for the festival, and we’ve been asked countless times if we would ever return. To now be able to say yes — and as part of a long-term partnership — feels incredibly special.
“Festival of Thrift is about celebrating sustainability, creativity and community in ways that are joyful and accessible. Redcar and Cleveland embody those values, and we’re thrilled to be part of the area’s continued growth and ambition. We can’t wait to return in July 2026 and bring the festival back to Kirkleatham for audiences old and new.
“We can’t wait to hear from the region and the UK’s second-hand sellers, charities, up cyclers, sustainable food sellers, artists, designer makers and clubs and societies working for the well-being of society”
To find out more about Festival of feeds take part, trade, volunteer and stay up to date with all Festival of Thrift news by signing up the newsletter at www.festivalofthrift.co.uk or follow the festival’s social media feeds @festivalofthrift on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads.