The Clanger’s What’s On Guide lands every Wednesday and is the only guide you need to find out what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires.
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Walking: “The Life and Times of John Bunyan” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
Discover the story of Bedford’s most famous son who was imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching. Visit the site of the cottage in which John and his family lived, the churches in which he worshipped and the site of the gaol in which he spent 12 long years and began to write one of the best selling books in history, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Local history: John Howard – Radical Prison Reformer: his enduring call to action’
Basement@Bunyan, Mill Street, MK40 3EU @ 2pm
£10 (payable on the door)/£5 Friends of John Bunyan Museum & Library
To mark the 300th anniversary of the birth date of John Howard, Prison Reformer and Bedfordian, the Basement@Bunyan is hosting a talk by David Spademan, managing chaplain of multi-faith chaplaincy team in a public sector prison.
The talk will be followed by a panel discussion and a guided visit to local Howard sites at 3.30pm – 4 pm.
This is also an opportunity to visit the Summer Exhibition on John Howard at the same venue, open 11 am to 4pm.
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Live music: Cardinals + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Following in the footsteps of now globally acclaimed bands like The Murder Capital and Fontaines D.C. (who they supported at their huge Finsbury Park day festival last summer), the Cardinals are flying their nation’s flag, merging colourings of Irish traditionalism into a palette of edgy post-punk and intricate art-rock.
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Quiz: Esquires’ monthly music quiz
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
£2 per person/maximum of six per team
Head to Esquires for their monthly music quiz on the first Thursday of every month. Teams of up to six people compete in the quiz featuring music from the 50s to the present. Cash prize for the winning team.
Friday, 4 – Sunday, 6 September 2026
Live music: MillFest
Bromham Mill, MK43 8LP
Tickets:
Three unforgettable days of live music, incredible street food, family entertainment, bars and an atmosphere you won’t want to miss.
Read: West End star Zoe Birkett talks MillFest, her 25-year career, and making a life in Bedfordshire
Friday, 4 September 2026
Live music: Country Meets Rock
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20/£18
Featuring the combined talents of award-winning country musician Thorne Hill and the incredible rock vocals of Sally Rivers, this show seamlessly blends the storytelling heart of modern Country with the raw power of classic Rock.
Featuring a setlist spanning the genres, so expect everything from Bon Jovi and Journey to Lonestar and Lady A.
Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 September 2026
The great outdoors: ATW Bedford Running Festival
Russell Park
The ATW Bedford Running Festival is back in Russell Park on the first weekend in September and is open to everyone from serious runners to families and spectators looking for a fun weekend out. Entry to the festival village is completely free and there is loads to see and do.
For runners, the festival features a range of distances across flat, fast, mixed-terrain courses along closed roads and riverside cycle paths. On Saturday, choose from the Bedford 5K (3pm) – perfect for speedsters – or the Twilight 10K (5.30pm). You can also sign up for both races back-to-back to achieve the Saturday Double. There is also a Mini Miles family fun run at 4.30pm open to all ages.
At 9.30am on Sunday, it’s the simultaneous Bedford Half Marathon and 20-Mile Race, described as the Autumn marathon prep. If you’re really keen, you can take on the Weekend Challenge by completing one of the Saturday events and a long-distance race on Sunday.
For non-runners or friends, family and spectators, the Festival Village is the place to be. There’s live music, a yoga and wellness tent, a mini funfair, face painting and glitter tattoos, plus street food and bars. Something for everyone, whether you’re putting on your running shoes or not.
Saturday, 5 – Sunday, 13 September 2026
The great outdoors: The Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks
Throughout Bedfordshire
This annual celebration of the great outdoors features walks of all distances, and for all levels of fitness. From a two-day 40-mile walk along the Greensand Ridge to a ‘walk and sail’ with the John Bunyan Boat and a Bat Walk – weather permitting.
Explore the town centre with Bedford Tour Guides, Foster Hill Road Cemetery or discover beautiful Bedfordshire in more depth.
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Venue/where to meet:Mowsbury Park, MK41 8AH @ 10am and 1.30pm
A morning ramble through Brickhill, heading to Ravensden and back via Putnoe Woods. 4.5miles.
In the afternoon, a flat circular walk beginning at Mowsbury Park and exploring Howbury Hall and Renhold. Seven miles.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 5 September 2026
LGBTQ+: Bedford Pride: a festival of community, creativity, and celebration
Harpur Square and Harpur Suite @ 1pm – 8pm
Free entry
Get ready to crank up the colour and turn up the energy as we get ready to celebrate Bedford’s LGBTQ+ community at Pride this month.
Organised by Rainbow Bedfordshire and sponsored by The Harpur Trust and The University of Bedfordshire, this year’s event brings a packed lineup of entertainment, connection, and grassroots activism to the town centre.
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Live music: Man of the World : The Music of Peter Green
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
Celebrating the life and music of Peter Green, founder of the original Fleetwood Mac, guitarist Remi Harris will be joined by vocalist Dave Small, bassist Tom Moore and Shane Dixon on drums to perform music from throughout Peter Green’s career.
Including such classics as Man Of The World, Black Magic Woman, Need Your Love So Bad, Albatross and The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown).
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Live music: Rammlied (Rammstein Tribute)
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Experience the electrifying energy of Rammstein’s music with RAMMLIED, the UK’s #1 tribute act.
From classic hits like “Ich Will” and ”Du Hast” to newer fan favourites like “Dicke Titten” and “Auslander”, Rammlied delivers an exhilarating experience that even the most die-hard Rammstein fans will appreciate.
So join frontman Adam Lindemann and the rest of the boys for a night of laughter, dancing, and singing along to all your favourite tracks. Don’t miss out on the ultimate Rammstein party…
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Walking: “Plaques and Plinths” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind some of the blue plaques that adorn several buildings around the town or wanted to know more about some of the statues and monuments that grace the town centre? This walk will reveal the stories behind the Plaques & Plinths and why such recognition is warranted.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Family fun: Biddenham Village Show
St James’s Primary School, Main Road, Biddenham MK40 4BD @ midday – 4pm
Entry: £3 Under 12s free
A classic village day out packed with family fun is guaranteed at the Biddenham Village Show this weekend.
Kick off your morning early with tea and cake at the village hall café from 10am before the main grounds open at noon. MP Richard Fuller will formally open the show at 12.30pm alongside the Children’s Fancy Dress Parade with the theme ‘what I want to be when I grow up’.
The ever-popular Fun Dog Show is at 1pm and trophies and raffle prizes will be handed out from 3pm.
Throughout the afternoon, enjoy an enormous range of entertainment including circus skills, soft axe throwing, pet cuddle corner, a classic car display, face painting, and traditional fairground games alongside vibrant craft and plant stalls.
Refuel with delicious food trucks, ice cream, candy floss, and barista coffee, or grab a drink at the licensed Beer, Cider & Pimm’s Tent. Find full competition listings, entry forms, and event programmes at biddenhamshow.org.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Live music: Annual Esquires BeatleJam
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Teh Sunday Afternoon Sessions return to Esquires with the annual BeatleJam.
The evening will feature the cream of the Bedford (and beyond) music scene, who will ‘Come Together’ to perform some of their favourite Beatle tracks.
Hosted by Mat Roberts, full bands and solo artists are welcome (strictly no backing tracks). If you would like to take part, contact Mat Roberts at matrobertsmusic@aol.com.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Poetry: Read Poets Society
The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm
Tickets: Free
Join Swan Theatre Company at The Eagle Bookshop for their first poetry evening of the season.
This month’s theme is A Sense of Place.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Theatre: Lady Windermere’s Fan
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, in an adaptation that brings Wilde’s razor-sharp dialogue and delicious social satire to life with inventive staging and playful character doubling.
When Lady Windermere begins to suspect her husband’s loyalty, a mysterious woman’s arrival threatens to upend her world. A whirlwind of gossip, temptation, and mistaken intentions follows—leading to a revelation that challenges every assumption.
Tuesday, 8 – Saturday, 12 September 2026
Exhibition: FREYJA – Prints + Drawings by Richard Lloyd
The Basement@Bunyan, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street MK40 3EU
Free entry
From 8 September, artist Richard Lloyd is showing prints/drawings developed over the last few years during his career between Denmark and the UK and between the roles of artist and art tutor.
The exhibition is entitled FREYJA after the northern mythological goddess who features in some of the poems from the Poetic Edda, which are around 800-1,000 years old.
Ancient myth for Lloyd exposes tensions between the past and present. The project picks up on Freyja’s fractured identity through the many names she is known by and roles that are attributed to her.
A key aim of the work is to recalibrate her identity by bringing her many names back together. Lloyd does this through reference to her role as a goddess of weaving, with a view to strengthening Mother Earth. instagram.com/richard.lloyd.art/
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Local history: Discover your family’s past – family history beginners course
BFHS Research Centre, CVS, 43 Bromham Road @ 7pm – 9pm (weekly for six weeks)
£30 per person (includes a one-year membership to the Bedfordshire Family History Society
Ever wondered about your roots? The Bedfordshire Family History Society is running a friendly six-week beginners course to help you trace your ancestry using records, online genealogy tools, and proven research techniques.
The step-by-step sessions cover building a family tree, navigating census and civil registration data, locating birth, marriage, and death records, exploring parish archives, and effectively organising your research.
For more information, email chairman@bfhs.org.uk.
Tuesday, 8 September 2025
Film: Bedford Film Society presents The President’s Cake
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue
Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5
Bedford Film Society’s 2026/27 season kicks off tonight with a film based in 1990s Iraq.
Nine-year-old Lamia is chosen from her classmates to bake a birthday cake in honour of the president, Saddam Hussein. As a result of international sanctions, she scrambles to find ingredients for this compulsory task while facing potential punishment if she fails. Four stars – The Guardian
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Film: The People’s Emergency Briefing
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: Free but please book via the Place website
This screening forms part of a growing UK-wide programme of events designed to help ensure that both the public and decision-makers are clearly and honestly informed about the climate and nature crisis – and what it may mean for communities across the country.
The screening will be followed by a discussion to explore what these issues mean here, in Bedford and how we can respond together.
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Live music: B.C.U.C
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
BCUC, or Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness, hail from South Africa and are known for their high-energy blend of indigenous funk, hip-hop, punk rock and ancestral spiritual music.
This is going to be one of those “I was there” shows – make sure you grab yourself a ticket.
Thursday, 10 September 2026
Gardens: Special afternoon event
Kathy Brown’s Garden @ 2pm-5pm
Tickets: £30
Come and enjoy a relaxed afternoon with a tour of the garden, a chat about Kathy’s special cakes from the garden, then the chance to enjoy afternoon tea with savoury scones and Kathy’s special homemade cake. Choose from a varied selection of drinks including tea, tisanes, coffees, our own apple and pear juices.
Gluten and dairy-free options are only available for the cakes, not the scones – please email Kathy in advance if needed.
Thursday, 10 September 2026
Poetry & Spoken Word: Hard Knocks
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £14
Following the release of his new book, The Door-to-Door Poet, as well as a hit programme on BBC Radio 4, Rowan McCabe returns to the stage with Hard Knocks, a show of spoken word and comedy about community and connection.
Expect stories of mistaken identity, odes to rebellious snails, and ruminations on time-travelling public officials, all delivered with Rowan’s trademark warmth and wit.
Friday, 11 September 2026
Adult learning: Open day and garden party
Rothsay Education Centre, Rothsay Gardens @ 11am – 2pm
Free entry
The REC’s annual open day is the perfect excuse to explore the Centre, chat with tutors and dip into free taster sessions. Stay for sausages from the BBQ, Pimms and fundraising stalls.
Friday, 11 September 2026
Art & culture: Bedford Art Society Meeting with artist Jamie Poole
Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB @ 7.30pm
This month’s event features a demonstration by printmaker and paper collage wildlife artist Jamie Poole.
Friday, 11 September 2026
Live music: The Courettes + GoGo Loco
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
£17.50
Fresh from supporting The Damned at Wembley in April, expect a jolt of high‑octane rock’n’roll as The Courettes bring their explosive garage‑beat energy back to Bedford.
The Danish–Brazilian duo have built a fierce reputation channelling the raw spirit of 60s girl‑group pop, fuzz‑drenched garage rock, and a wall‑of‑sound intensity that feels tailor‑made for every venue.
Friday, 11 September 2026
Live music: blender presents The Scenesters + Kate Gore & the Screamers + Sycamore + Life Before Seat Belts
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £8
The blender Future Sessions are back for an autumn show this September, featuring another fresh cast of new and emerging bands from the live music neighbourhood, giving you all another chance to discover your favourite new band before the year is out.
Indie rockers The Scenesters and pop punkers Life Before Seatbelts are making their first trip to Esquires and we welcome Sycamore, rising out the paused Plateau experiment along with the mighty Kate Gore and The Screamers, who are currently laying down tracks in the studio and will have a brand new single out to celebrate come October.
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Community: Craft and Handmade Fair
Emmaus Village Carlton, School Lane MK43 7LQ @ 10am – 3pm
Free entry
On Saturday, 12 September, head to Emmaus Village Carlton to browse handmade products from local crafters, artists and makers.
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Venue/where to meet: Riseley Primary School MK44 1DR @ 10am
Venue/where to meet: Stagsden Church MK43 8SQ @ 1.30pm
The weekly morning walk takes in trails near Melchbourne, Swineshead’s woodland and via Pertenhall, 11.25 miles.
In the afternoon, a countryside walk north of Stagsden. Six miles.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Dance music: The 2pm Club – daytime disco 80s edition
Bedford Esquires @ 2pm – 6pm
Tickets: £12
Boombastic Events are back with the ever popular ‘2pm Club’ Daytime Disco this weekend. This time round it’s a celebration of the greatest musical decade ever – the 80s.
Saturday, 12 & Sunday, 13 September 2026
Theatre: Twelfth Night
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
The Pantaloons once again present their own brand of Shakespearean mayhem.
Separated at sea, twins Viola and Sebastian wash up on the island of Illyria, both fearing the other is lost forever.
Plied pranksters, puritanical pillocks and perhaps even true love await them as they forge their own paths through this new world of fools, jewels, duels and dual identities.
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Live music: Mark Chadwick (The Levellers)
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
£22.50
The Levellers’ frontman and chief songwriter, Mark Chadwick, is back at Bedford Esquires this month for a special, intimate show.
Still going strong, the Levellers are perennial festival favourites. Be warned – Mark will have you up dancing!
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Live music: Fynnius Fogg
The Quarry Theatre @7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Fynnius Fogg formed in 1972 and their debut single, “Roller Skating Baby,” reached no 17 in the UK charts. Since reforming, the Bedford band has helped raise over £1m for charitable causes.
Enjoy an evening of nostalgic, authentic hits from the 60s and 70s, plus stories from the band’s time in the spotlight.
Saturday, 12th September 2026
Classical music: Stephen Meakins – Piano concert
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14
One of the UK’s busiest young pianists and a keen collaborator, Stephen Meakins is in great demand as a chamber musician and has performed in major concert venues as both soloist and accompanist.
Catch him at this intimate venue in Bedford.
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Shopping: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market
Harpur Square @ 10am
Bedford Flea can be found at its new home in Harpur Square this month, bringing its usual fabulous selection of vintage finds, collectables, food and affordable art.
There will also be a live poet to conjure up some typewritten odes on the day!
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Walking: “I Never Knew That” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
“I Never Knew That”
The most commonly heard phrase after the completion of a Guided Walk. This Walk encompasses all that information about Bedford and its many features that YOU never knew!
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Family fun: Nature Together Art Trail
Kempston Mill, Mill Lane, Kempston MK42 7BD @ 11am – 4pm
Free
To celebrate the conclusion of BCA’s ‘Nature Together in Kempston’ summer programme, celebrate with a special Art Trail along the River Great Ouse in Kempston.
There will be workshops with Anne-Marie Abbate, a wellbeing walk with Rachel Hegarty, a scavenger hunt for children, storytelling and talks, food and drink vendors and lots of other fun activities.
Free, but booking recommended: bedfordcreativearts.org.uk/events/nature-together-art-trail
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Live music: Dead Shady play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Bedford’s own Dead Shady return to Esquires with two sets of post punk/New Wave Covers. Also on the bill, their friends Poison Justice who will be opening the afternoon at 5pm sharp.
Until 2 September
Exhibition: Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
The Higgins Bedford @ extended
Free entry
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson, this exhibition tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero, Noel Carrington (1895–1989). Schooled in Bedford with his sister Dora, Noel Carrington became one of the most influential figures in 20th-century design. Through the Puffin Picture Books and Country Life he commissioned, edited and published some of Britian’s most loved children’s picture books.
Read: Celebrating Bedford’s unsung publishing hero: Noel Carrington and Puffin Picture Books
He saw the genius in artists such as Kathleen Hale, publishing books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat and championed emerging artists such as Hilary Stebbing. With Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and Mervyn Peake, he commissioned books such as ‘High Street’, ‘Life in an English Village’ and ‘Captain Slaughterboard’.
Through beloved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Until Saturday, 5 September
Local history: Howard 300 – celebrating the life of the pioneering prison reformer
Basement@Bunyan @ 11am – 4pm
Free entry
Many people will recognise John Howard’s statue in St Paul’s Square, but how much do you really know about the man behind the monument?
A pioneering prison reformer, Howard’s famous work, The State of the Prisons in England and Wales transformed attitudes towards prison conditions and continues to influence the justice system today.
Hosted in the Basement@Bunyan, the exhibition brings together a collection of historical artefacts alongside items from HMP Bedford. Visitors will also have the opportunity to read inspiring creative writing pieces produced by current prisoners at HMP Bedford, offering a thought-provoking perspective that connects Howard’s legacy with the present day.
Curator, Elisha Breed said ‘It is an honour to put together an exhibition which highlights a man who fought hard for change for so many.”
The exhibition is supported by Museum Development South East and Arts Council England.
Every Monday
Live music: An evening with Mat Roberts & guests
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
Free entry
Join Mat Roberts and special guests every Monday evening for the best live music and a chilled-out vibe.
At the Higgins Bedford
Until 4 October
Exhibition: Children’s Art Competition and Exhibition
Sir William Harpur Gallery at the Higgins Bedford
The Children’s Art Competition features more than 100 pieces of artwork created by pupils from schools across Bedford Borough. The children aged 4 to 18 have created their artwork at workshops with professional artists visiting their schools.
The theme for the 2026 exhibition is ‘Aspire: Nurturing Potential’, based on their aspirations, goals, dreams, hopes and what they want to be or do in life.
Read: Young Bedford artists showcase big ambitions in ‘Aspire’ exhibition
The competition and exhibition are a collaboration between The Harpur Trust and The Higgins Bedford.
Until April 2027
Display: A Brewery in Bedford: Celebrating 150 Years of Wells & Co.
Somewhere in England Foyer, First Floor
Free entry
Founded in 1876 by Charles Wells, the business began at Horne Lane Brewery, brewing beers and growing a thriving pub estate.
Read: 150 years of Bedford’s brewing heritage on display at The Higgins
In 2019, it moved to Brewpoint and rebranded as Wells & Co., marking an exciting new chapter. Find out more about their 150 year journey.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a secretive Christian group formed in the early twentieth century that created its own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
As featured on BBC Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town.
Every Tuesday
Community: Tuesday Chess Café
The Pavilion in the Park @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
If you’re a keen chess player or have always wanted to learn, then the weekly chess cafe at the Pavilion in the Park is for you.
Players meet every week, and there’s no membership.
