Our calendar of events on Bedford Borough Council parkland throughout 2025.
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.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Parkrun New Year's Day | 1 January | Bedford Park |
| New Year Head | 12 January | The Embankment |
| Wassail | 14 January | Mowsbury Hillfort |
| Air Quality stand | 20 January | Bedford Park |
| Air Quality stand | 21 January | Russell Park |
| Bedford 5 & 10 Miler | 26 January | The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford 4s and 8s Head of The River | 9 February | The Embankment |
| Bedford 10k and Half Marathon | 23 February | The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| ITV Filming | 24 or 25 February | Russell Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Plantlife stall | 1 March | Harrold-Odell Country Park |
| Easter Trail | 5-21 March | Priory Country Park |
| Thunder races Harrold-Odell 10k, 25k & 50k | 8 March | Harrold-Odell Country Park |
| Love Light Walk | 15 March | Kempston Mill |
| Rivercare | 22 March | St Mary's Gardens |
| Eat Feast | 28 March | Riverside Square |
| Plantlife stall | 28 March | Priory Country Park |
| Junior Aquathlon | 30 March | Bedford Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 5-13 April | Goldington Green |
| Easter Trail | 5-21 April | Priory Country Park |
| Bedford Spring Small Boats Head of the River | 13 April | The Embankment |
| Eat Feast | 25 April | Riverside Square |
| Harrold Pit Run | 26 April | Harrold-Odell Country Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| James Richards Circus | 1-5 May | Great Denham |
| Elstow May Festival | 3 May | Elstow Green |
| Romanian Labour Day | 5 May | Addison Howard Park |
| Bedford Amateur Regatta | 10 May | The Embankment and Longhome Way |
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 10-11 & 17-18 May | Mowsbury Park |
| Stride out for Memory | 17 May | Priory Country Park |
| Run Beyond Boarders | 17 May | Bedford Park |
| Thurstons Funfair | 19 May - 2 June | Addison Howard Park |
| Lifepath | 20-22 May | Elstow Green |
| Fake Festival | 24 May | Bedford Park |
| Eat Feast | 30 May | Riverside Square |
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 30th May - 1 June | Great Denham |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga and Wellbeing in the Park | 8 June | Bedford Park |
| Eid Bedford | 12-13 June | Addison Howard Park |
| Beds AAA | 20 June | Priory Country Park (track only) |
| Bedford Kite and Motoring Festival | 21-22 June | Russell Park, Embankment and Mill Meadows |
| Shaheedi Football Tournament | 28-29 June | Hillgrounds |
| Bedford Park Concerts | 27 June – 13 July | Bedford Park |
| Eat Feast | 27 June | Riverside Square |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Park Concerts | 27 June – 13 July | Bedford Park |
| Thurstons Funfair | 21 July -4 August | Longholme Way |
| Doug Anderson 5km | 23 July | Bedford Park |
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 24-27 July | Bedford Park |
| Race for Life | 25-27 July | Priory Country Park |
| Eat Feast | 31 July | Riverside Square |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Music in the Meadows | 3 August | Mill Meadows Bandstand |
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 7-10 and 14-17 August | Russell Park |
| Music in the Meadows | 10 August | Mill Meadows Bandstand |
| Music in the Meadows | 17 August | Mill Meadows Bandstand |
| Bedford Harriers Triathlon | 17 August | Russell Park and The Embankment |
| Original Culture Events Ltd | 16-17 August | Priory Country Park |
| Great Denham Village Fete | 23 or 24 August | Great Denham Country Park |
| Music in the Meadows | 24 August | Mill Meadows Bandstand |
| Eat Feast | 29 August | Riverside Square |
| Gumbles Wristband Fair | 29-31 August | Goldington Green |
| Music in the Meadows | 31 August | Mill Meadows Bandstand |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Running Festival | 6-7 September | Russell Park, The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| Eat Feast | 26 September | Riverside Square |
| Girl Guide Bridge Walk | 28 September | The Embankment |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Starlight Hike | 11 October | Longholme Way and The Embankment |
| Junior Aquathlon | 12 October | Bedford Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford 10k and Half Marathon | 2 November | The Embankment and Priory Country Park |
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Keech Santa Run | 8 December | The Embankment and Mill Meadows |