Super excited to announce that we're working with local artist & facilitator Bianco Perry, who'll be leading banner making workshops getting you prepped for the parade on Sunday 5 July. You'll find her in the woodland on Saturday 4 July running free drop in sessions where you can create your very own banner to bring back on Sunday and wave with YOUseburn pride!
About the artist: Bianco Perry is a hand stitch artist based in the North East. Her fabric banner pieces combine found vintage fabrics, coloured tassels and an array of some of our favourite sayings and quotes. Perry's work is full of humour, imagination and colour, turning the mundane into something special and remembering that even the small things bring joy!
This commission was made possible using public funding from Arts Council England (@aceagrams )
Photo 1 by @wilfotograf
If you know Ouseburn, you know we LOVE a market- and there's a whole bunch of 'em happening over Festival weekend for you to enjoy!
The much loved Ouseburn Market will coincide with Ouseburn Festival, bringing you local artists and makers selling gifts, prints, clothing & more.
10AM-3:30PM 4&5 JULY
Ouseburn Arches Food Market is back on Stepney Bank to keep you fuelled as you go about your weekend!
12-6PM 4&5 JULY
Head down the bank to 36 Lime Street where the doors will be open for a Makers' Market hosted by their talented studio holders.
11AM-6PM 4&5 JULY
Get you vintage fashion fix at the space by St Oswald's Hospice. Whether you're a collector, avid charity shopper, or just love something a little different – there’s a retro item waiting to be re-loved by you!
10AM-3PM 4&5 JULY
Finish your market crawl at Toffee Factory for Chilli Toffee: Fire and Form - Festival of Ceramics, a market showcasing the work of Chilli Studios.
12-4PM 4&5 JULY
Full lineup will be released at ouseburnfestival.org.uk on June 4th- 1 month before the big weekend! Until then, we'll be dropping more your way on socials so keep your eyes peeled👀
Have you registered as a volunteer for Ouseburn Festival yet? We're still looking for stewards to bring the event to life! Join the gang and be at the centre of Ouseburn's biggest weekend- there may even be hoola hooping opportunities on offer...
💛 Find out more and sign up at ouseburnfestival.org.uk 💛
It's back! After a brief hiatus last year, the Ouseburn Festival Community Parade returns on Sunday 5 July, meeting at Toffee Factory from 12:45 ready to set off at 1. We'll be parading past Tyne Bar, along Riverside Walk and into the woodland ready to be serenaded at the bandstand.
Join us to fly your YOUseburn flag, bang your YOUseburn drum, dance your YOUseburn dance- good vibes all round!
(Flags and drums not required, although you'll have the opportunity to make your own festival banner on Saturday 4th July in the woodland- more details on that soon!)
If you've been at Ouseburn Festival the past couple of years you will have seen a growing bunting collection around the valley, created by schoolchildren from Byker, Heaton and Shieldfield and members of Ouseburn community groups. We're thrilled to have Louise Underwood back for a third year, adding to the project which is growing into a gorgeous timeline of the community through the years!
This commission was made possible with funding from @aceagrams
What if the spaces we gather in were shaped by us?
@commonc.co are running a series of open, community-led skill-sharing sessions leading to the creation of 'Pavillion of the Commons', a nature-based shared space for gathering, workshops, and connection during Ouseburn Festival.
Rooted in hands-on making with natural materials, this is a chance to explore how we relate to one another, and to the surroundings we’re part of, holding care for both people and multi-species communities. If you’d like to be part of it, head to @commonc.co 's bio for the sign up form! 🌱
Here's a throwback to Ouseburn Festival 2025 to get you excited for this year! Ouseburn Festival returns on the 4th & 5th July 2026, all across Ouseburn Valley and it's surrounding areas, bringing you live performances, workshops, markets and a whoooooole lotta fun 🕺🪩
ARTIST COMMISSION CALLOUT !!
We're opening applications for an artist to lead community workshops to create beautiful banners to be waved during the Ouseburn Festival parade! Find out more and apply at the link in our bio.
Applications close on Friday 8 May at 12pm and the chosen artist will be contacted the following week. We can't wait to see your ideas!
This commission was made possible with funding from @aceagrams
Could your business help make Ouseburn Festival a success in 2026?
Ouseburn Festival is one of the North East’s most loved free cultural weekends, welcoming over 10,000 people each year. Keeping it free, inclusive and community-led is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s only possible thanks to partners who believe in what the festival stands for. However, as the event grows, and costs continue to rise, we are experiencing a significant funding gap. Your support is essential to making the Festival happen in 2026.
Get in touch with us at [email protected] to find out how you could help💛
Want to be part of Ouseburn Festival 2026? We're on the lookout for friendly volunteer stewards to help festival weekend run smoothly. Join our lovely team and get stuck in on the action- it's loads of fun and a great way to meet new people, boost your CV experience, and be at the heart of a much-loved community event.
💛 Find out more and sign up at ouseburnfestival.org.uk 💛
And the winner of our theme name competition is...... @biancoperry with YOU-seburn Festival! YOU, the people of Ouseburn are what makes the Valley so special, so we loved this suggestion, and the geordie connotation of 'youse' of course!
This theme will shape artist's commissions (👀), parade outfits, workshops & more. We can't wait to celebrate YOU this summer at Ouseburn Festival💛
@biancoperry , let us know which event you'd like your victory vouchers for, and we'll get them sorted for you!
📸 @thejacknimmo
We're working hard behind the scenes to put together the programme for Ouseburn Festival 2026, all will be revealed soon, but for now- here's our official 2026 poster! Get the dates in your diary, it's not one to miss!⭐💛🌼
