Bedford River Festival

Just one week before we celebrate the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, the Town of Bedford and the River Great Ouse will come alive to the sight and sound of hundreds of thousands of people, enjoying one of the biggest free family festivals in the UK.

Staged on the picturesque Victorian Embankment, Promenade, the River Great Ouse and in Russell Park, the Festival is a unique combination of the carnival, the musical, and of course, the nautical!

From the traditional launch of the Festival with the parade, to the five live music stages, countless River activities, fireworks, the opportunity to participate in our arts, heritage or sports villages, and stroll through our continental market and taste cuisine from around the world; there is literally something for everyone at the Bedford River Festival.

Indeed, entertainment features strongly at the event with displays form local community groups in the arts and sporting worlds, to a multitude of professional acts.

Attracting in excess of 300,000 spectators the Bedford River Festival is free, and offers numerous opportunities to participate in, or just to relax and enjoy a vast array of activities and entertainment.