S&DR200: Here's everything you need to know to have a fun-filled festival!

All aboard for the fantastic S&DR200 Festival which this weekend is celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway - and you don't want to miss it! 

On Sunday (28 September) Stockton takes centre stage as part of a packed programme of large-scale events and railway inspired activities for all ages.

One of the highlights of the S&DR200 Festival is a once in a lifetime re-enactment of the inaugural journey of Locomotion No.1, which took place 27 September, 1825, and covered a 26-mile journey between Shildon and Stockton-on-Tees via Darlington.

This historic journey transformed how the world traded, travelled and communicated. Two hundred years later, spectators will be able to watch a newly restored replica, pulling the passenger carriage, 'Experiment', and goods wagons along sections of the original line into Stockton on Sunday. 

This will be followed later in the day by a programme of exciting activities, including live performances and food and drink opportunities in Stockton Town Centre, culminating in Ghost Train: The Arrival, a magnificent outdoor show of epic scale and innovation taking place on Stockton Riverside.

Here's your guide to everything happening in the Borough for the Festival:

What is S&DR200?

S&DR200 is a nine-month international festival inspired by the first historic first passenger train journey 200 years ago on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Visitors of all ages have been enjoying a packed programme of free large-scale outdoor events, exhibitions and commissions in the public spaces, libraries, and world-class museums and heritage attractions of Tees Valley and County Durham.

The highlight of the S&DR200 Festival is the recreation over three days this weekend of that groundbreaking journey of Locomotion No.1. The final leg of the journey sees the train arrive in Stockton on Sunday, followed by a day of celebration and performances in Stockton Town Centre.  

What's happening on the day and where?

Locomotion No.1 is due to arrive at Stockton Station at 10:55am, but due to incredible demand tickets are fully booked. But you can still see Loco No.1 from the official viewing location at Rochester Road from 11:32am where it will remain for approximately 40 mins. We are advising visitors to get to Rochester Road by 11am.

The train will have a fantastic, elevated position on the line and will be welcomed with a military gun salute. No tickets are required as this viewing point is large enough to allow thousands of people to experience this special moment in history. Accessible viewing of the loco will be available from the road, which will be closed to traffic.

Then visitors can head to Stockton Town Centre where the celebrations will continue into the evening.

Come to Parish Gardens between 12 noon and 6pm to enjoy Tinker Town's City of Play, which will see children and families be able to design and build their own structures from scrap timber. Visitors are provided with training and tools and are free to play, learn and discover while developing their creativity and construction skills. There will be a special, interactive mud kitchen where children can play and make creations inspired by the special banquet enjoyed at Stockton Town Hall 200 years ago.

Stockton-on-Tees Libraries are hosting a programme of activities throughout the day at Stockton Central Library. From a historical talk by local history speaker Amanda Hepburn at 12:30pm, to storytelling by the famous Sir Topham Hatt, Thomas the Tank Engine's much-loved character at 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm, there's something for all the family.

Newly commissioned for S&DR200, 'STEAM', a large-scale outdoor dance theatre production from Southpaw Dance Company, will wow the crowds on the High Street with two free performances at 2pm and 4pm, using the iconic Stockton Flyer.

The dramatic show will tell the original story of the world's first passenger railway and the extraordinary people who built it through a blend of contemporary dance, storytelling and a 100-strong cast made up of members of the community and professional performers. It explores the remarkable ingenuity and determination of figures such as George Stephenson, known as the Father of Railways and Edward Pease, the daring investor who envisioned a new era of commerce and connectivity.

As part of the bicentenary celebrations you can also visit Preston Park Museum to enjoy Tracks of Change. This series of exhibitions explores the impact and legacy of the birth of modern railways and includes Corridors, a breath-taking new installation by internationally acclaimed artist Rebecca Louise Law. A free shuttle bus will be running from Stockton Town Centre, on Church Road opposite the Hilton Hotel, to Preston Park Museum on Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

Then at 7:30pm be sure not to miss the magical finale, Ghost Train: The Arrival, the biggest outdoor show ever staged in Stockton!

Ghost Train is a creative and engineering feat which includes an amazing re-imagining of Locomotion No.1, complete with six illuminated carriages, travelling along a giant 12-metre-high structure in the Riverside Road car park. It will feature a bespoke musical score from international composer Sarah Llewellyn, live music, projection and a 75-strong cast made up of prestigious national and local performers.

The Riverside - which will be open to pedestrians only - is a fitting location for the Ghost Train spectacle as the destination of the original 1825 train journey was the S&DR Railway Company's wharf on Stockton's Riverside. Thousands of people can enjoy the musical build-up to the event from 7pm. The show will close with a short pyrotechnics and firework display.

Ghost Train is a two part performance, with part two arriving in Stockton following Ghost Train: The Departure in Darlington on Saturday 20 September.

Is S&DR200 free?

Yes - all S&DR200 shows on Sunday are free to enjoy!

What will there be to eat and drink?

For visitors enjoying the entertainment, there will be a railway-themed outdoor chill-out zone serving food and drinks called The 1825, in Bishop Street Car Park.

The 1825 will be a unique space for people to relax, while they enjoy tasty treats, live music and entertainment, set against the newly restored Locomotion No.1 mural.

This area will create a 'festival village' atmosphere, offering top-tier food and drink from a host of local traders from 11am to 9pm.

What's the best way to get there?

View our  of all the exciting things happening in the Borough on Sunday 28 September, including where to park for the Locomotion No1 viewing at Rochester Road. Visitors are advised to plan their journeys and arrive early as the site is expected to be extremely busy.

Rochester Road is around one mile from Stockton Town Centre and can be accessed on foot. There will also be free car parking close by at Norton Rec, available on a first come first served basis.

And if you want to see the whole of the journey, check out this handy map of the Anniversary Journey route.

For the celebrations in Stockton Town Centre there is ample car parking within easy walking distance. View our handy  for a list of public parking available on Sunday 28 September. See details of duration of stay, charges and RingGo codes.

Convenient, free parking for Blue Badge holders is available on Norton Road, Church Road and Bishopton Lane. Blue Badge holders are exempt from charges for on-street bays and there is no time limit on parking.

You can also park in Wellington Square. Visit the Wellington Square website for details, including parking charges.

I need more information, where should I go?

Stay tuned to S&DR200 and the Council's social media channels for regular information about The Anniversary Journey, Ghost Train: The Arrival and what's on offer across the rest of the day. A full list of the S&DR200 programme listings can be found on the S&DR200 website.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, said: "Sunday 28 September will be a truly iconic day to remember, with plenty of entertainment throughout the day for people of all ages and a chill-out zone where visitors can enjoy live music and tasty treats.

"And the finale, Ghost Train: The Arrival, will be an epic outdoor performance of a scale that has never been seen before in the Borough! Outdoor street art at its finest, audiences can expect to see one of the biggest street art commissions brought to Stockton, with beautiful storytelling, humour, music, peril and spectacular fire, water and pyrotechnic effects too - bringing the curtain down on a historic day!"

Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director, said: "The festival programme offers something for all visitors to enjoy, from the railway enthusiasts to families, as well as engaging a younger generation with new and inventive ways to tell the pioneering S&DR story like Ghost Train: The Arrival, the second instalment of the two-part performance, following on from Ghost Train: The Departure in Darlington.

"This breathtaking celebration of our railway heritage, brought to life through world-class creativity, engineering and performance, is a once-in-a-generation spectacle that will amaze, inspire and unite our communities — a true highlight of the S&DR200 Festival."