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Bedford River Festival

Everything you need to know about the 2023 Bedford River Festival. and its events in along the River Great Ouse in Bedford.

When is Bedford River Festival 2023?

The Bedford River Festival is on this year with dates still to be announced.

One of the country’s largest events, The Bedford River Festival normally happens every two years, with music, entertainment, arts & crafts & fun for all the family along Bedford’s embankment. It is the second largest free two-day event in the UK after Nottinghill Carnival and attracts c 30,000 people.

The Bedford Independent has learned of plans to replace the Bedford River Festival with an annual summer 'family festival' that organisers say will "celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, businesses...
Cllr Tom Wootton standing along Bedford's River Great Ouse with the town bridge in the background.
The Bedford mayor’s failure to attend a committee meeting shows his “heart isn’t in” the River Festival, a senior Lib Dem councillor has claimed. The Environment and...
Mayor Tom Wootton
Councillors from across Bedford Borough say they're still not sure how, or why, Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) made an announcement that he was scaling back the Bedford River...
The Bedford River Festival Main Stage in Russell Park. Image: Pad Presents
Mayor Tom Wotton has said proposed river festival changes revealed in the Bedford Independent on Friday (18 August), which received almost universal criticism, will now not go ahead after he...
Here are just a few photos from this weekend's Bedford River Festival 2022. From funfair rides to live music, happy crowds and river fun, there really was something for everyone!...
Bedford River Festival regatta The Embankment
Bedford Borough Council has today confirmed that the River Festival - already postponed from 2020 until this Summer - and also the Kite and Motoring Festival are being postponed until 2022...
Bedford River Festival regatta The Embankment
2021 was a difficult year with COVID-19 dominating and various restrictions and lockdowns taking place throughout the year. Sadly 2022 hasn’t got off to a much...
Bedford River Festival regatta The Embankment
Bedford High Street will be closed for the 2020 River Festival. Mayor Dave Hodgson made the announcement at the Eagle Brewery last week at an event to launch the 2020 festivities. Speaking to...
The River Great Ouse, Bedford: The Swan hotel and the town's famous swans.
The River Great Ouse in Bedford is looking lovely today. We took these quick pictures on a walk this morning (14 May) and though we'd share them with our readers. The river enters...
If you want to kick off the summer holidays in style, you've come to the right place! This month in Bedford sees one of the country's largest free festivals (the River Festival), over 120...
Image: John Robb
A father of three was branded a ‘hero’ after saving a little girl from drowning at Bedford River festival on Saturday 22 July. People were screaming but John dived in fully clothed...
River Festival
A fake 'River Festival' page on social media has been reported to Facebook, after causing confusion over whether the event is going ahead...