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Bedford River Festival: What to expect over two days

Alex Popein Bedford
News imageBedford Borough Council A load of people at a River Festival, taking part in water sports. There is someone in the air in a canoe and people walking over bridges and someone in a zorbing circle.Bedford Borough Council
The event, along Bedford's Embankment, is held every two years

Bedford will be filled with many different sights and sounds when its biennial River Festival returns on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 300,000 visitors are expected to attend the event that was last held in 2024 and costs about £500,000 to stage.

The free-to-attend festival will be held across the town, The Embankment and Russell Park, with events starting from 10:00 BST.

Here is a guide on what to expect.

What is on offer?

News imageBedford Borough Council Six people on a raft, on the water, all wearing high-vis jackets, wearing hard hats and holding paddles. People can be seen with their legs over a wall behind them.Bedford Borough Council
A lot of action takes place along the River Great Ouse

The family area is at St Mary's Gardens, which also has a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) space.

In Bedford town centre, hundreds of vehicles will be on display at the Festival of Motoring. At 17:00, on both days, a cavalcade of motors will drive through the town.

The Sports Island will be next to the Butterfly Bridge, where anyone can try a range of sports including climbing, rugby, gymnastics, golf and squash.

Close by at the Water Sports Arena, there will be paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking.

The arena will also host zorbing sessions, water obstacle races and canoe polo matches. An arts and culture area is being created at Mill Meadows, with live events and stalls.

News imageBedford Borough Council Loads of people on water, taking part in sporting activities. There are trees in the distance, and a few buildings. There are mostly canoes on the water. Bedford Borough Council
Water sports are also the order of the two days

On Saturday, dragon boat racing will start from 10:00 and raft racing begins from 14:45 on Sunday.

The Martyn Pearson Grand Parade of Cabin Cruisers and Narrow Boats are on both days with the Illuminated Boat Parade at 21:00 on Saturday.

The Craft and Gift Marquee will be in Russell Park, and a specialist Festival Market around The Embankment Gardens.

The Green Earth Vegan Lounge will be located at Castle Mound and a Wellbeing Tent will make its festival debut.

Water music

News imageBedford Borough Council A large group of people in front of a stage, with an act performing on it. A screen is to the left. Some people have put their arms up in the air. The sky is turning dark in the sky.Bedford Borough Council
You will be able to hear live music across the town - Henge have played previously

The Harpur Square will host the Music Service Stage.

Along The Embankment, the BBC Music Introducing Stage will start at 13:00 and finish at 20:00 with acts from across Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.

The Main Stage at Russell Park starts from 11:30 and the headline act is The Drum & Bass Band on Saturday at 21:00.

On Sunday, it starts again from 11:30 and Uncle Funk's Disco Inferno will headline at 18:30.

The Community Stage, in Mill Meadows, will showcase some of the best local talent and a pop-up bandstand will return on the Town Bridge.

On Saturday at 12:00, Bedford's Most Wuthering Heights Day will be held when as many people as possible are being asked to wear red.

Staying safe

News imageBedford Borough Council A large group of people, walking over a bridge, forming a queue to get on it. Some people are sat down to the left. More people are seen in the distance on the other side of the river.Bedford Borough Council
Signs, stewards and helpers will be on offer to guide visitors along the River Great Ouse

Organisers say festival stewards and security personnel will offer help, but some bridges will be one way and two temporary two-way pontoon bridges have been installed.

Road closures will be in place from 05:00 on Saturday, including the High Street and The Embankment, until Sunday evening at 23.59.

Barriers will be across roads to prevent vehicles entering.

An airspace restriction will be in place from 04:00 on Saturday to 20:00 on Sunday, meaning no drones are allowed to fly.

Bedfordshire Police will be also using live facial recognition (LFR) technology. In 2024 it led to two arrests.

The council's Community Safety team will be based in The Blue Lights area in Russell Park where anyone can pick up wristbands for children to wear to include their contact details, in case they get lost.

What can I take?

News imageBedford Borough Council A large group of people at a festival sitting or standing on a grassy field. Stalls and trees surround the edge.Bedford Borough Council
Food stalls will be selling cuisine from across the world

Anyone can take their own food and drink, but the council is encouraging visitors to support official trade stalls and local businesses.

No glass bottles or containers are allowed, but there will be areas to refill water bottles across the sites.

How to get there?

News imageBedford Borough Council People taking part in events at the River Festival, there is a bouncy inflatable, and a gazebo. Trees are also behind the structures, a building to the left and an area of river. Bedford Borough Council
Many local roads around Russell Park and The Embankment are only open to residents

Due to very limited parking and local road closures, everyone is asked to use public transport, cycle or walk.

Stagecoach will be running extra buses, including a late night service on both days.

Elstow Park and Ride will be running an enhanced service.

A bus will operate every 15 minutes from Bedford town centre costing £2.40 for a single and £4.80 for a return.

Both Thameslink and East Midlands Railway run trains to Bedford.

Due to strike action services may be disrupted on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford.

Parking is on offer in the following locations:

  • On Saturday, Allhallows Multi-storey Car Park is free for the first four hours, and Queen Street Car Park is free for the first two hours and after 18:00
  • All council-owned town centre car parks are free from 18:00 on Saturday and all day on Sunday
  • Everard Meadow and Bedford International Athletics Stadium will charge £10 to park
  • Blue Badge holders can park at Everard Meadow, the Athletics Stadium, Longholme Way, St Mary's Car Park and Cauldwell Street

If you cannot make it, you can listen to BBC Three Counties Radio live from the festival on Sunday from 14:00.

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