The Festival of Thrift, a nationally acclaimed event championing sustainable living and creativity, has announced its highly anticipated return to Kirkleatham Museum and its picturesque grounds in Redcar and Cleveland. This revival, set for the summer of 2026, marks the beginning of an exciting new multi-year partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, much to the delight of audiences, artists, traders, and local residents who have long awaited its homecoming.
A Joyful Announcement After Years of Anticipation
For several years, there has been widespread speculation and hope within the community regarding the festival's potential return to its beloved home at Kirkleatham. The Festival of Thrift team expresses immense joy in finally sharing this positive news with the public, ending the uncertainty and reigniting enthusiasm for this cherished event.
Details of the 2026 Festival Weekend
The festival will make its comeback for its 14th edition on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, 2026. The historic Kirkleatham site and its surrounding grounds will once again be transformed into a vibrant hub for the festival's distinctive free weekend. Attendees can look forward to a rich programme featuring arts, craft, performance, fashion, food, traders, workshops, and sustainability-focused activities, all designed to inspire and engage.
Expanding into a Year-Round Organisation
Festival of Thrift has evolved beyond a single annual event into a year-round organisation. This new multi-year partnership with Redcar and Cleveland presents a unique opportunity to deepen collaborations with local people, businesses, artists, and communities across the borough. Alongside the annual summer celebration, the team plans to develop playful and creative activities and projects throughout the year. These initiatives will be rooted in a shared vision of imagining a greener, fairer, and more joyful future together.
Significant Economic and Cultural Impact
Each year, the festival attracts between 25,000 and 40,000 visitors from across the UK, generating a substantial positive impact on the local economy. It provides a vibrant platform for local traders, makers, food producers, artists, and organisations, boosting visibility and commerce. Since the festival was last hosted in the area, Redcar and Cleveland have developed an exciting portfolio of new cultural and sporting events. The return of Festival of Thrift is thrilled to become part of this growing cultural offer, enhancing the borough's appeal.
Alignment with Broader Sustainability Goals
The festival's return aligns seamlessly with Redcar and Cleveland's wider placemaking ambitions and its leadership in sustainability across industry, business, and communities. This ranges from grassroots initiatives to major developments like the Teesside Freeport. Festival of Thrift is excited to be based in Redcar and Cleveland, at the heart of ambitious industrial development that positions the area as a leader in the UK's net-zero transition. From offshore wind and hydrogen to low-carbon manufacturing and carbon capture, the Freeport exemplifies how sustainability can operate at scale, creating skilled jobs, supporting local communities, and linking environmental action with long-term economic resilience.
Leadership and Community Support
Alec Brown, leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, expressed absolute delight in welcoming Festival of Thrift back to Kirkleatham. He highlighted the festival's immense value to residents and visitors, noting its real cultural and economic benefits that support local businesses, artists, and traders while attracting tens of thousands of people to the area. Brown emphasised that the festival's return reflects the borough's ambition as a place of creativity, sustainability, and confidence, complementing its growing programme of cultural and sporting events.
Wayne Hemingway MBE, founder and board member of Festival of Thrift, shared that Kirkleatham holds a very special place in the festival's heart, having been its true home from 2016 to its landmark 10th anniversary in 2022. He noted the countless inquiries about a potential return and expressed how incredibly special it feels to confirm this as part of a long-term partnership. Hemingway praised Redcar and Cleveland for embodying the festival's values of sustainability, creativity, and community, and expressed thrill at being part of the area's continued growth and ambition. The festival eagerly anticipates reconnecting with audiences from across the Tees Valley and welcoming visitors from further afield to discover the rich, vibrant locality.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Festival of Thrift looks forward to engaging with second-hand sellers, charities, upcyclers, sustainable food sellers, artists, designer makers, and clubs and societies working for societal well-being from the region and across the UK. This return promises to be a celebration of community, innovation, and a positive future, building on past successes while forging new paths in sustainable living and creative expression.
