SIRF 26: Here's everything you need to know to have a fun-filled festival!
The world-renowned Stockton International Riverside Festival will once again be wowing crowds in Stockton town centre from Friday (31 July) - here's everything you need to know to have a super SIRF experience!
SIRF 26 brings together some of the finest street theatre, dance, music and arts from across the globe, with more than 100 performances taking place over the weekend - and for the first time audiences can experience the festival in the stunning setting of Stockton's new Waterfront park alongside the High Street and riverside!
There are shows, installations, workshops and so many things to see and do, plus the SIRF Community Carnival, a family favourite, returns on Sunday. There'll be something to entertain everyone, and it's all free to enjoy!
Cllr Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, said: "We are very excited to see our flagship event SIRF make its debut in the Waterfront park which, alongside the High Street and Riverside, will be transformed into a theatrical feast of fun and wonder with 100 colourful and captivating performances.
"With thousands of people expected to visit SIRF across the three days, now's the time to plan your festival to make the most of your experience. Take a look at this year's online programme and choose which of the fabulous range of acts you'd like to see, which of the tasty food stalls are tempting you and plan your journey for a relaxed experience.
"You can even build your own personal online SIRF schedule and add it straight to your phone or calendar so you don't miss any of your favourite performances.
"And remember to stay tuned to our social media accounts for news and up to date information throughout the week."
Here's your guide to the festival:
What is SIRF?
Stockton International Riverside Festival is the centrepiece of the Borough's popular annual events calendar. It attracts tens of thousands of people to the town each year who come to be entertained by high quality outdoor arts - from spectacular large scale shows to small, intimate experiences.
What's on and when?
SIRF 26 gets underway on Friday (31 July) and runs through to Sunday (2 August).
The fun starts at 5pm on Friday with a big musical party in the park! Prepare to make some noise for UK festival favourites Cable Street Collective, a London-based band renowned for their dynamic live performances blending African-inspired rhythms, soulful vocals, powerful horn lines and sharp pop melodies.
Audiences can also enjoy performances on the amphitheatre stage from Teesside's very own up-and-coming rock 'n rollers Marketplace Band and The Turbans, another London-based international musical collective who have built a reputation for their electrifying festival performances.
The SIRF Community Carnival remains a highlight on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. This year the always colourful carnival has the theme Our Place - Where the River Carries Us, A living story of Stockton-on-Tees — past, present, and future flowing together. More than 800 local participants will showcase their marvellous creations as they parade down the riverside, through the urban park and up Stockton High Street in a flood of sound and colour.
Then visitors and carnival-goers can stick around and party, enjoying more family fun, including workshops, live music, dance and live shows before the amazing SIRF finale Euforia at 9.45pm, when Catalonian company Sacude perform their thrilling aerial dance show high above the ground on a suspended platform!
As usual there will be a whole host of family-friendly fun and quirky performances throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the full programme visit the SIRF website.
Is there anything different this year?
Yes, for the first time SIRF will captivate the crowds in the wonderful setting of Stockton's new Waterfront park alongside the town centre and riverside, providing a spectacular backdrop and new ways for audiences to experience the festival.
This year SIRF will also shine a spotlight on audiences with 11 shows that have participation and casts from local communities.
Is SIRF free?
Yes, all of the SIRF 26 shows are free - simply turn up and enjoy!
What will there be to eat and drink?
Our much-loved festival village SIRF Green is once again the space to go for tasty eats and garden seats. Open daily in Finkle Square from 12pm to 10pm on Friday, 11am to 10.30pm Saturday and 11am to 9.45pm Sunday, SIRF Green is the perfect place to sit and chat with family and friends and grab some affordable food and drink from our street traders.
Enjoy some marvellous performances throughout the day, celebrating the very best of local and regional musical talent, from atmospheric indie folk and acoustic favourites to soaring vocals, infectious beats and interactive musical experiences with DJ Marco, Izzy Neish, Annie Lince and Cue Music.
What's the best way to get there?
Visitors are encouraged to choose low-carbon, healthy transport options such as walking, cycling or utilising public transport where possible.
Stockton town centre is well served by buses from across the Tees Valley. Visit the Connect Tees Valley website to see timetables and a list of all temporary changes to bus stops.
If you're visiting by car there are many parking options with hundreds of spaces available within a short walking distance of the town centre. You can also park in Wellington Square, which is subject to parking charges. Convenient parking for Blue Badge holders is available throughout Stockton town centre, including on Norton Road, Church Road and Bishopton Lane. Accessible parking bays are also available at Wellington Square.
Please note some car parks are closed during the festival. For a full list of available car parks and a useful map visit the SIRF website.
There will be a small number of road closures in place in order for us to host the festival safely. To view a full list of road closures visit the SIRF website.
Is SIRF accessible?
SIRF has a proud history of supporting disabled and disabled-friendly artists and there's a range of services on offer to help people with disabilities access performance sites and accessible viewing areas. Our Accessible SIRF Champions service is available across the festival. To book please contact SIRF Central on 01642 528130. Please note, spaces are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis.
This year we have a number of shows which will have BSL (British Sign Language) interpreters present or feature integrated BSL within performances. These include:
- Ferdinando & Bernstein - Stick and Stone [Integrated BSL]
- Zoielogic Dance Theatre - The Ostentatious Ball [Integrated BSL]
- Nigel 'Kobby' Taylor - The Torch
- Radical Ritual - Tender Exchange
- Talawa Theatre Company - Fragments of Us
- SIRF Platform: Lizzie Lovejoy - How to Make a Gobby Lass
- SIRF Platform: Eve Walker - Hold Your Own
For non-integrated performances, SIRF BSL interpreters can be identified by their BSL T-shirts.
A number of shows at SIRF this year are also offering touch tours. For full details on Accessible SIRF visit the SIRF website, or pop along to SIRF Central at the Enjoy Stockton-on-Tees Visitor Information Centre, 134b High Street, to find out more.
Where can I get SIRF updates during the festival?
Be sure to follow SIRF's social media on Facebook and Instagram. To keep up with any changes during the event follow Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's social media channels.
Use the #SIRF26 hashtag on your posts from the festival, or tag SIRF or @StocktonCouncil and you could see them featured online.
I need more information, where should I go?
Visit the SIRF website.
If you need information or help during the festival ask the friendly SIRF Visitor Experience team - you'll see them wearing the orange SIRF t-shirts - or head to SIRF Central.
