Pictures of the Stockton International Riverside Festival

Crowds flocked to the world-renowned Stockton International Riverside Festival once again at the weekend to be thrilled by a host of entertainment.

The event in Stockton town centre brought together some of the finest street theatre, dance, music and arts from across the globe, with more than 120 performances taking place over three days.

There were shows, installations, workshops, as well as the SIRF Community Carnival, a family favourite, on Sunday.

(Image: Chris Booth)

Stockton International Riverside Festival is the centrepiece of the borough's popular annual events calendar, attracting tens of thousands of people to the town each year.

Among the acts this year were Ian Marchant, who cooked up a storm with his 'Culinary Capers' show.

Clad in chef's whites, his culinary-themed show saw him performing feats with vegetables, balancing baguettes and performing other daring deeds with dishes.

(Image: Chris Booth)

Spanish act Osadia returned to reprise the 30th anniversary of their first SIRF performance of 'Whose Hair Dares', demonstrating the sculptural quality of hairdressing all set to music.

Acrobatics, juggling, theatre and live music were combined in the family-friendly act from the Farm Yard Circus, who delivered a high-energy show featuring hay bales, wheelbarrows and even an old scarecrow.

(Image: Chris Booth)

The event saw the return to the UK of Mécanique Vivante for the first time in 35 years, to thrill audiences with their musical inventions and dream machines in The Sirens' Song.

The highlight was the SIRF Community Carnival on Sunday, with an impressive 750 participants, artists and musicians.

The spectacular finale featured between Realms by Fidget Feet, Ireland's national company for aerial arts, and Sound De Secà (Catalonia), on the High Street’s North Car Park and Plinth Stage.

(Image: Chris Booth)