A Teesside festival celebrating sustainable living welcomed thousands of visitors to the region on Saturday and Sunday.

The Festival of Thrift, an annual event in Billingham, Tees Valley, transformed the town centre and nearby John Whitehead Park into a hub of creativity, sustainability, and community.

The festival, known for its diverse line-up of events, talks, independent traders, and interactive installations, offered a wide range of free workshops.

These workshops, supported by Thirteen Housing, taught visitors mending, making, and repurposing skills, including zine making, lino printing, Japanese-inspired denim mending, fermenting, and creating eco-beauty products.

Dominic Somers, Festival of Thrift’s co-creative director, said: "We have had an amazing weekend crammed full of joyful experiences.

"It’s been wonderful to see people of all ages joining in and having lots of fun and it’s been great to welcome people from near and far to celebrate the power of thrift."

(Image: James Mulkeen)

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The Camp Thrift playground provided entertainment for children and adults alike, with activities such as den building and slacklining.

Boxville by Cardboard Adventures taught participants the skills needed to become cardboard engineers.

(Image: James Mulkeen)

The Imagined Meadow area was home to several interactive installations, including the northern launch of 100 miles of String by Leap then Look, where visitors worked together to create a woven landmark.

A programme of emerging and established music talent, selected by Base Camp Industries, performed throughout the weekend.

Musical acts also entertained from the town centre bandstand.

Slow Fashion Alley offered visitors an insight into sustainable style and conscious fashion choices, with fashion shows, a curated collection of fashion and accessories from the UK’s best charity retailers at the Charity Supermarket, and the chance to exchange unwanted fashion items and accessories at the Teesside Hospice Swapshop.

A series of inspiring talks featured guests discussing topics including music, fashion and identity, and the natural world.

Billingham’s own Paul Smith, Maximo Park singer and frontman, spoke with Festival of Thrift co-founder Wayne Hemingway about music, identity, and growing up in northern towns like Billingham.