Community Carnival

The much-loved SIRF Community Carnival is a real highlight of the festival, bringing together more than 750 participants to fill Stockton High Street with music, movement and imagination on Sunday 2 August 2026.

A vibrant procession of children, young people, adults, community groups, musicians and street performers will dance, sing and celebrate their way through the town in a flowing spectacle of blues and greens inspired by the River Tees. Taking place on the festival's final day, the carnival is a joyful celebration of creativity, community and place.

Our Place: Where the River Carries Us

This year's theme tells a living story of Stockton-on-Tees, where past, present and future flow together like the river itself. Inspired by the Tees as a symbol of connection, memory and renewal, the carnival celebrates the people, landscapes and stories that have shaped the town and continue to carry it forward.

Drawing inspiration from the River Tees, the new Waterfront park and the reflective spirit of Simon Armitage's poetry, the parade will be filled with birds, folk creatures and whimsical characters inspired by life along the Tees. Flocks of imagined wildlife, flowing river spirits and playful creations will drift through the streets, bringing moments of wonder and welcome to audiences of all ages.

Rooted in place and looking towards new beginnings, Our Place: Where the River Carries Us is a colourful celebration of Stockton's identity and the spirit of SIRF – a carnival where stories, communities and creativity come together on a shared journey.

Experience it for yourself

The SIRF Community Carnival returns on Sunday 2 August 2026, bringing hundreds of performers, community groups and musicians together for a colourful celebration through the heart of Stockton.

Plan your visit and join us for this year's carnival.