A SUMMER festival is taking place virtually with a programme of performances, films and video workshops.

Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) will still be going ahead, but with an altered format, from July 31-August 2.

Councillor Jim Beall, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s cabinet member for health, leisure and culture said: “It means we’ll be bringing SIRF to you, wherever you are. This is an exceptional year, and it calls for an exceptional solution.

“The SIRF team will be presenting a really special programme that people can access at home – with brand new recordings of performances as well as look backs.

“There’ll also be video workshops explaining how you and your family can make costumes and record footage to send us for use in a virtual community carnival film. And if you’re not online, there’ll be SIRF activities that we can post out to your home so you can still get involved."

Organisers are hoping to keep the carnival spirit alive by getting people involved in activities and a community carnival film will be shown online at 12pm on Saturday, August 1.

SIRF has been going for more than 30 years now.

“We’re making a series of films for SIRF week and they’ll no doubt prompt much nostalgia,” said cllr Beall.

“There’s a memories film based on a wonderful archive of images from festival-goers and the collection of Gilmar Riberio, who photographed SIRF for 25 years.

“There are also ‘I Love SIRF’ and ‘Your Reviews’ films featuring people’s thoughts on what it is they like most about SIRF, and some of the acts we’ve had over the years.

“And there’s a special film for launch night, featuring some of the best opening shows over the years.

“We’d love people to contribute their own footage, memories and reviews through the SIRF website.”

The first "how-to" video will go live today on SIRF social media channels.

For full details visit www.sirf.co.uk.