Family friendly
The River Festival site expanded into St Mary’s Gardens in 2018 to create a chill-out zone perfect for those seeking a quieter side to the Festival. In 2026 this area is kindly sponsored by Bedford College and it will be bursting with family-friendly activities.
The Family Island is aimed at tots to teenagers. The Family Island will boast a packed programme of children’s workshops from dance, storytelling, sensory activities, arts, crafts, fun science, and interactive shows brought to you by some fantastic children’s entertainers and practitioners.
We can’t wait to bring some exciting entertainment and create lasting memories this summer!
Workshops are free, but spaces on some of the workshops will be limited, so please arrive early to secure a place. If you happen to miss out, don’t worry, children will be surrounded by free entertainment in this area of the site, such as a petting zoo and the Little City Role Play Village throughout the weekend.
SEND families
SEND Family section will also be on family Island. This “Inclusive Island” will be cordoned off and will have a shaded area with sensory equipment as well as a dedicated bouncy castle for children and young people with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND).
The area will be staffed from various services that support children and young people with SEND and their families. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have or to share information about events, clubs and activities that may be suitable for you or your family. There will also be a mobile changing place toilet available at the site and it is close to plenty of disabled parking. There will also be stalls from the NHS and other family-friendly activities.
Adventure Village
The ever popular Adventure Village will also make a triumphant return, with local activity providers Canoe Trail putting on lots of exciting outdoor adventurous activities. This will include bushcraft demonstrations, axe throwing, a climbing wall and more.
St Mary’s Gardens is also the best place to watch the dragon boat races from!
On the other side of the river, Riverside Square will feature a static display of unique vehicles presented by the Festival of Motoring.
Catering available
| Food options on site | Vegan | Vegetarian | Gluten Free | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgers | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Hot Dogs | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Fries | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Pizza | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Family Island Programme
Saturday 18 July
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00am to 10:45am | Dry ice Potions with Little Science Lab |
| 11:00am to 11:45am | Rocket Launching with Little Science Lab |
| 12:00pm to 3:00pm | Family Story Telling with the Drama Greezers |
| 3:15pm to 5:00pm | Festival Mask making for Families with Kaye Leidoskope |
| All Day | Petting Zoo with Animal Edge |
| All Day | Role Play Village with Little City |
| All Day | Circus Skills with Covent Garden Circus Skills |
Sunday 19 July
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00am to 12:00pm | Festival Crown Making for Families with Kaye Leidoskope |
| 12:15pm to 1:00pm | Dry Ice Potions with Little Science Lab |
| 1:15pm to 2:00pm | Rocket Launching with Fun Science |
| 3:15pm to 4:00pm | Interactive music Storytelling Shows (Bee, Badger, Butterfly) with Imajica Theatre |
| 4:15pm to 5:00pm | Interactive music Storytelling Workshop (Bee, Badger, Butterfly) with Imajica Theatre |
| All day | Petting Zoo with Animal Edge |
| All day | Role Play Village with Little City |
| All day | Circus Skills with Covent Garden Circus Skills |
