AN EVENT to celebrate everything ingenious about Darlington – which aims to inspire a future generation of inventors – takes place in the town this weekend.

The two-day Festival of Ingenuity will feature interactive activities and exhibits to inspire young minds, and is designed to be a fun way for children and young people to learn about engineering and technology.

Street dancers, robots, a land-based train and a vintage bus will be among the attractions at the event, which runs until Sunday.

The Northern Echo:

The free festival starts on Friday with a focus on schoolchildren.

More than 400 pupils from primary and secondary schools across Darlington will be taking part in activities aimed at inspiring the next generation by giving them hands-on experience with major employers.

And on Saturday the town centre will be transformed into a hive of ingenious activities.

Activities will be centred around three locations - the Market Place, Riverside Park and the raised podium at the Feethams Leisure Complex.

There will be an exhibition marquee in the Market Place, crammed with engaging activities for children and adults, provided by different business.

Visitors will have the chance to take on a robot in a time trial, watch a 3D printer at work on try some virtual reality goggles for size.

The marquee will also include an exhibition on 150 years of ingenuity in Darlington and the chance to have a go at controlling miniature subsea robots.

The Northern Echo’s Chris Lloyd will give a free talk in Central Hall from 11am, revealing some of the lesser known events and extraordinary characters who have helped shaped Darlington.

Street entertainers, dancers, face painting, a birds of prey display and a Punch and Judy show will be on offer on the Feethams Podium.

And an Ingenious Explorer Trail, aimed at young children and their families, will start and finish at the podium.

Collect a map and follow the clues on a treasure hunt around the town centre, for the chance to win a free gift.

Darly, a land-based train, will ferry festival-goers in between the attractions.

There will also be a chance to hop aboard a vintage bus and visit the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, where a new Gresley class steam locomotive, Prince of Wales, is being built from scratch, or the Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Coniscliffe Road, where the Victorian-era equipment will be in full flow.

The Head of Steam Museum railway museum will have family entertainment ongoing.

Seth Pearson, director of event organisers One Darlington Partnership, said: “A lot of effort and, indeed, ingenuity has gone into planning this year’s festival, which I know will be a huge success.

"I’d like to thank Darlington Building Society for sponsoring the festival, as well as all the other partners who have given their time and effort to prepare for this event. It promises to be a great day, with something for everyone, so I’d encourage as many people as possible to come and join us.”

Colin Fyfe, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, said: “We’re excited to be sponsoring this year’s second annual Festival of Ingenuity, which promises to be a memorable celebration of everything that’s great about Darlington.

"This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. It’s supported by some of the town’s brightest engineering and technology talent, celebrating Darlington’s successes both past and present, while encouraging the next generation.”

Exhibitors in the marquee on Saturday include Cummins, Deep Ocean, Durham Police, EE, Nifco, Teesside University, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, Mech Tool Engineering, Modus, Darlington College and Cleveland Bridge.