| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 16 January | Winter Wassail | Mowsbury Hillfort |
| 28 January | Bedford 5 & 10 Miler | The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
Our calendar of events on Bedford Borough Council parkland throughout 2024.
Thurston's Funfair and Gumbles Fun Zone Fair
Both the Thurston’s Funfair and Gumbles Fun Zone Fair operate on multiple dates throughout the year, more information can be found below.
Thurston’s Funfair
A token operated funfair for the whole family to enjoy!
Gumbles Fun Zone Fair
Jam-packed children's fun zone fair operating a pay on entry system with unlimited rides once inside.
2024 events
January
February
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February | Bedford 4's and 8's Rowing Event | The Embankment |
| 20-21 February | Lark in the Park | Jubilee Park |
March
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 3 March | Star Club New Year Head of the River | The Embankment |
| 24 March | Junior Aquathlon | Bedford Park |
| 29 March | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 29 March - 14 April | Easter Trail | Priory Country Park |
April
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 March - 14 April | Easter Trail | Priory Country Park |
| 1 April | Bedford 10K and Half Marathon | The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| 14 April | Bedford Spring Fours and Small Boats Head | The Embankment |
| 11-14 April | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Goldington Green |
| 21 April | Bedford and Ouse Valley Scouts bridgewalk | The Embankment (bandstand) |
| 27 April | Harrold Pit Run | Harrold Odell Country Park |
| 28 April - 6 May | James Richards Circus | Great Denham Country Park |
| 26 April | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 30 April - 1 May | Bedford Canoe Marathon | The Embankment |
May
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 30 April - 1 May | Bedford Canoe Marathon | The Embankment |
| 4 May | Elstow May Festival | Elstow Green |
| 10-20 May | Thurstons Funfair | Addison Howard Park |
| 11-12 and 18-19 May | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Mowsbury Park |
| 11 May | Bedford Amateur Regatta | The Embankment and Longhome Way |
| 19 May | Rothsay Herb Garden Open Day | Rothsay Roundabout |
| 25 May | Fake Festivals | Bedford Park |
| 31 May | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 31 May - 2 June | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Great Denham Country Park |
June
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May - 2 June | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Great Denham Country Park |
| 8 June | Star Regatta | The Embankment |
| 9 June | Orienteering Event | Mill Meadows, Priory Country Park and Town Centre |
| 9 June | Yoga Festival | Bedford Park |
| 9 June | WI Sponsored Walk | Priory Country Park |
| 15 or 22 June | BRASS Football Funday | Russell Park |
| 22-23 June | Cardington Slalom Competition - National Ranking Event Division 2/3/4 | Cardington Canoe Slalom |
| 28 June | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 30 June | Armed Forces Day with Freedom of the Borough | Town Centre |
| 29 June | Bedford Sessions: Avril Lavigne | Bedford Park |
| 30 June | Bedford Sessions: Jess Glynn and Cian Ducrot | Bedford Park |
July
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 4 July | Bedford Sessions: Tom Jones | Bedford Park |
| 5 July | Bedford Sessions: Pete Tong Ibiza Classics | Bedford Park |
| 6 July | Bedford Sessions: James Orchestral Performance and Johnny Marr | Bedford Park |
| 7 July | Bedford Sessions: Nile Rogers and Chic, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Deco | Bedford Park |
| 5 July | Beds AAA race | Priory Country Park Track Only |
| 6 July | Wingmania | Priory Country Park |
| 7 July | Italian Festival | Town Centre |
| 13-14 July | Eid in Bedford | Addison Howard Park |
| 17 July | Doug Anderson 5k | Bedford Park |
| 20-21 July | River Festival | The Embankment and surrounding land |
| 26 July | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 27-28 July | Race for Life | Priory Country Park |
| 27 July (or 13 July TBC) | Bedford Morris Day of Dance | Castle Mound/Mill Meadows |
| 25-28 July | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Bedford Park |
August
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 4 August | Music in the Meadows - Bedford Town Band | Bandstand on Mill Meadows |
| 11 August | Music in the Meadows - May Blossom | Bandstand on Mill Meadows |
| 18 August | Music in the Meadows - Mainline Big Band | Bandstand on Mill Meadows |
| 25 August | Music in the Meadows - Fynnius Fogg | Bandstand on Mill Meadows |
| 8-12 August | Zippos Circus | Longholme Way |
| 8-11 and 15-18 August | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Russell Park |
| 11 August | Bedford Harriers Triathlon | The Embankment and surrounding land |
| 17-18 August | Original Culture Events Ltd | Priory Country Park |
| 24-26 August | Last Siege of Bedford Castle Theatre Production | Castle Mound |
| 30 August | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 30 August - 1 September | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Goldington Green |
| 30 August - 1 September | Sundown Cinema | Russell Park |
| 31 August - 1 September | Cardington Slalom Competition - National Ranking Event Division 2/3/4 | Cardington Canoe Slalom |
September
| 30 August - 1 September | Gumbles Wristband Children’s Fair | Goldington Green |
| 30 August - 1 September | Sundown Cinema | Russell Park |
| 30 August - 1 September | Cardington Slalom Competition - National Ranking Event Division 2/3/4 | Cardington Canoe Slalom |
| 1 September | Kempston Colts Tournament | Hillgrounds |
| 6-8 September | Bedford Running Festival | Russell Park, The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| 7 September | Cardington Slalom Comp - National InterClubs | Cardington Canoe Slalom |
| 15 September | Bedford Mela | Everard Meadow |
| 20-29 September | Thurstons Funfair | Longholme Way |
| 21 September | Great Denham Village Fete | Great Denham Country Park |
| 27 September | Eat Feast | Riverside Square |
| 28 September | Stride Out (Tibbs Foundation) | Priory Country Park |
October
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6 October | Bedford Guides Bridge Walk | The Embankment |
| 12 October | Bedford Starlight Hike | Longholme Way / Embankment |
| 13 October | Bedford Junior Aquathlon | Bedford Park |
November
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 3 November | Bedford Half and 10km | Russell Park, The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| 17 November | Autumn Head Rowing Event | The Embankment |
December
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 December | Keech Santa Run | The Embankment / Mill Meadows |
| 26 December | Boxing Day Scratch Eights Rowing | The Embankment |