The Bedford River Festival marks its 40th Anniversary on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July, with lots of events, stalls, entertainment, music, and activities both on and off the river.
The Festival has expanded this year, with St Mary’s Gardens hosting one of the six stages across the site with plenty to see including live music, dancing, aerobics and demonstrations.
St Mary’s Gardens will also host an Adventure Village with a rope course, bushcraft activities, and giant games arena, as well as an arts and crafts marquee. Across the site, there will be the ever-popular funfair and the Sports Village hosting come-and-try activities.
With 2018 also marking 100 years since the end of World War One, Castle Mound will be home to a World War One Heritage Village with a variety of displays planned including from the Royal Flying Corps.
Russell Park will be hosting the Festival’s main stage, with live music and bands including The Scruff and The Wholls, with Dub Pistols headlining on Saturday evening before the traditional Saturday night fireworks display.
Sunday brings more music, entertainment and fun to be had with of course the Parade which this year covers a new route across even more of our town centre.
There’s lots planned on the water too with dragonboat and raft races, boat parades, a river swim, inflatable animal race, Jet Boots displays, a canoe river cruise, cardboard-box racing and stand-up paddleboard racing.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said “The River Festival is fast approaching and I know many people are looking forward to this year’s event. As always this fantastic free event will bring together people from across Bedford Borough and far beyond. With so many different events and activities on offer, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.”
For more information about the River Festival, please visit the Customer Contact Centre on Horne Lane, libraries and Borough Hall.
Getting There and Getting Around
Car Park
Parking is free for up to 2 hours every Saturday in all council owned town centre surface and multi-storey car parks. Please note that you may still be required to obtain a parking ticket and display it in your windscreen. More information can be found here.
Lurke Street and River Street multi-storey car parks are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Normal prices will apply to all car parks and usual opening and closing will be in place.
Park and Ride
Elstow Park & Ride is located in Progress Park, on the A6 just north of the A6 junction of the A421. This location is ideal for those who are travelling to the River Festival from outside Bedford. The Park and Ride is open over the weekend with buses departing from the spacious car park in Elstow throughout the day. There will also additional buses to the Park&Ride after the fireworks on Saturday night.
Please click here for more information about services from the Park&Ride over the River Festival weekend.
Road Closures
Please check on road closures over the weekend of the River Festival.
Residents of the roads in question have been sent details of access over the weekend. Please be mindful that, although every effort will be made to keep road closures to schedule, these times are subject to change.
Rail Travel
The Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership (MVCRP) is delighted to announce that they have special services for the Bedford River Festival again this year. As well as normal services the MVCRP are offering a late evening ‘Fireworks Flyer’ leaving Bedford at 11:10pm on the Saturday night and an hourly Sunday service, with all services having two coaches. The Festival site is a short walk from Bedford St. Johns.
As well as these services, trains will run as usual from Bedford Station.
Public Transport
Buses will be running as normally as possible, though there will be some disruption during the Parade on Sunday due to road closures. For more information on times and fares, please click here.
