Thousands of visitors flocked to this year’s Festival of Thrift as it marked a decade of delivering its nationally-recognised celebration of sustainable living.

The tenth anniversary event also saw the festival paying a fond farewell to Kirkleatham, its home since 2016.

In 2023 the festival is staging its next move around the Tees Valley and is relocating to Billingham.

Following a launch parade through Redcar on Friday evening (September 23), over 50,000 festival-goers enjoyed the packed programme of artists and performers and hands-on family fun that the award-winning Festival of Thrift is known and loved for.

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There was also lots of debate and discussion in the ‘Enlightentent’ where a programme of talks ranged from our love of trees and the need to save indigenous insects, to a live discussion about the impact of the climate crisis with people living in the Amazon basin and northern India.

Booker prize-winner Ben Okri also read from his latest book, ‘Every Leaf a Hallelujah’, and there were special story-telling sessions for younger visitors with children’s authors. 

The Northern Echo: Ben Okri reads from his book, 'Every Leaf a Hallelujah'. Picture: FESTIVAL OF THRIFTBen Okri reads from his book, 'Every Leaf a Hallelujah'. Picture: FESTIVAL OF THRIFT (Image: Festival of Thrift)

Across the site, workshop sessions shared skills ranging from; how to budget, making ceramics, stitching and sewing, spoon-carving and planting a terrarium to making organic beauty products and sustainable washing detergent and the ECOuture sustainable fashion show showcased designs by slow fashion designers and upcycled outfits created by pupils at Catcote Academy in Hartlepool.

Beside Kirkleatham Museum, large-scale artworks, ‘On The Shore (Version 2)’, by Culture Declares Emergency founders Ackroyd and Harvey, and ‘Arrivals and Departures’ by Yara and Davina, created a thought-provoking impact on visitors.

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The Northern Echo: Festival of Thrift started in 2013 and has been held at Kirkleatham since 2016. Picture: FESTIVAL OF THRIFTFestival of Thrift started in 2013 and has been held at Kirkleatham since 2016. Picture: FESTIVAL OF THRIFT (Image: Festival of Thrift)

Diners pulled up a chair to join the 36-metre-long table for the festival’s communal meal The Town is the Menu and over 220 stalls selling food, drink, and artisan goods from independent traders were located right across the site.

Festival of Thrift director Stella Hall said: “We’ve had an amazing weekend. What better way to celebrate Festival of Thrift’s tenth year than by joining our amazing audience of thrift-goers in singing, dancing, enjoying good food and drink and sharing skills and experiences.

“Our event is always lots of fun, but it is underpinned by a serious intent to share the benefits of living sustainably. People are facing serious cost-of-living challenges and we are in the midst of a climate crisis so our message has never been more relevant. Our year-round mission encouraging people to make the shift to thrift continues.”

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