Bedford River Festival

The award-winning Bedford River Festival takes place in July every other year. 

The festival offers something for everyone - including live entertainment and activities, such as:

• raft races
• funfair
• parade
• fireworks
• sports, arts and heritage ‘villages’

The Bedford River Festival is free to attend.

Get involved

If you fancy a challenge and want to embrace the event, the River Festival offers the chance for you get involved. You can:

• enter a team in the Dragon Boat Race and raft race 
• take part in the Carnival Parade and promote your community group or company

Bedford International Kite Festival

Every June, Bedford welcomes international kite flyers to display their skills at the Bedford International Kite Festival in the big arena on Russell Park.

The event offers a weekend of fun for all the family with inflatables, food stalls, fairground rides, crafts and trade stalls.

Bedford Bandstand concerts

The Summer Bandstand Concerts take place at the Embankment Bandstand every July and August. Come along, bring the family and a picnic and enjoy two hours of traditional bandstand music.

River Great Ouse events

The River Great Ouse hosts a wide range of events and activities. 

Bedford BID 

Go to Bedford BID's Love Bedford website for more details on events taking place in Bedford town centre.

More information

Facebook: Bedford Events
Email: events@bedford.gov.uk
Phone: 01234 228759