The world-renowned Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) returns this summer, with organisers promising fun for all the family.

The free outdoor arts and street theatre festival will come to Stockton town centre from Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 4, with 120 street theatre, dance, music and arts shows from across the globe,.

The dramatic launch show on the Friday will see Mécanique Vivante returning to the UK for the first time in 35 years, with their musical inventions and dream machines in The Sirens’ Song.

The world’s only Siren orchestra will rumble round Stockton High Street, drawing in the audience, before being joined for the show’s crescendo by virtuoso soloists and performers for a show at 9.30pm. The Sirens are two structures made from former air raid sirens by inventor Franz Clochard, repurposed to play rhythmic music.

(Image: Stockton Council)

Before that there will be performers on the High Street, Parish Gardens and Green Dragon Yard from 1pm, including Farm Yard Circus, Roar Race sound powered tricycle racing, and River of Hope which features environmental artwork from schools across the region.

OSADÍA returns this year for the 30th anniversary of their first ever SIRF performance of WHOSE HAIR DARES! OSADÍA will create original exhibition-worthy hair sculptures, with audience members being transformed into works of art, on the High Street at 1.45pm and 5.45pm on the Friday and Saturday.

SIRF Green will be the space to go for tasty eats and garden seats, open daily during the festival from 12pm to 10.30pm in Bishop Street Car Park.

(Image: Stockton Council)

The SIRF Community Carnival will take place on the Sunday afternoon at 2pm, with 750 participants, artists and musicians. This year Urban Kaos will be on the Plinth Stage inviting the audience to join in a ‘Discoquarium’ - a disco party of underwater creatures, glitter bugs and disco balls.

Street shows on the High Street will begin with a drumming performance by Drum Machine, before workshops, live music, dance and live shows run up to the SIRF finale at 9.30pm.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: “As always SIRF will transform Stockton town centre into a theatrical feast of fun and wonder with hundreds of colourful and exciting performances - giving our residents and visitors plenty of opportunity to celebrate and bringing communities together.

“Performers this year hail from as far and wide as Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Estonia and the USA, and of course the Tees Valley and wider North East region.

“With SIRF we aim to create a magical and unmissable experience for everyone who attends - and our advice is simple, catch the big shows, catch the small stuff, come early and stay late!

“And after enjoying three days of family entertainment make sure not to miss Sunday's truly spectacular aerial finale, Between Realms by Fidget Feet, Ireland's national company for aerial arts, and Sound De Secà (Catalonia), at 9.30pm on the High Street’s North Car Park and Plinth Stage.

“All of the SIRF programme is completely free for audiences to experience, but two shows this year are ticketed - Chad Taylor Closer To My Dreams and Red Herring Productions Silent Disco. Tickets are free and available to collect each day two hours before the start of each show from SIRF Central in the Enjoy Stockton-on-Tees shop at 134b High Street.

“SIRF 24 promises to be another truly memorable festival, so keep your diary free from August 2 to August 4!”