Bedford River Festival

The Bedford River Festival is a free festival held biennially in Bedford, England on the banks of the River Great Ouse.

Bedford River Festival
Bedford Suspension Bridge - 2008 festival
FrequencyBiennial
Location(s)Bedford, England
Years active1978-2022
FoundersBedford Borough Council
Most recent23 July 2022 (2022-07-23) – 24 July 2022 (2022-07-24)
Attendance250,000
Websitehttps://riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk/

History

Bedford River Festival was founded in 1978 to celebrate the completion of a navigable route, by water, between Bedford and The Wash. [1] Originally it was held annually during the late May bank holiday but for many years has been biennial and held over either the second or third weekend in July.

The festival attracts an estimated 250,000 people over the weekend, and boat owners from across the country.[2] It is believed to be the second largest free outdoor event in the United Kingdom, after the Notting Hill Carnival.[3]

Music across the five stages includes local bands and artists, singing groups, with headliners including the Dub Pistols, [4] and DJs such as DJ Spoony, Fabio and Danny Rampling.[5]

Following redevelopment of part of the riverside, the 2018 festival expanded into neighbouring St Mary's Gardens,[6] site of a previous council-run free music festival named Lazy Sunday.[7]

The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event successfully returned in July 2022 with the next Bedford River Festival scheduled to take place in July 2024.[8]

It was announced on 18 August 2023 that the River Festival would be replaced with a new 'Family Festival'.[9]

The festival has grown significantly in recent years, with:

  • Participants in a raft race - 2008 festival
    Participants in a raft race - 2008 festival
  • Float in the parade - 2010 festival
    Float in the parade - 2010 festival
  • Canoes on the river - 2012 festival
    Canoes on the river - 2012 festival
  • In2Beats radio stage - 2012 festival
    In2Beats radio stage - 2012 festival
  • The main stage - 2014 festival
    The main stage - 2014 festival
  • View of the embankment - 2016 festival
    View of the embankment - 2016 festival

References
  1. "BBC Beds Herts and Bucks - Messing about at the Bedford River Festival". BBC. 17 July 2006.
  2. "Narrow boaters cross The Wash for Bedford River Festival". BBC. 14 July 2018.
  3. "Bedford River Festival 2010". BBC. 13 July 2010.
  4. "Bands to bring party vibes to town for Bedford River Festival". Bedford Today. 9 July 2018.
  5. "Beats and beer as Hops and Dreams announces epic music lineup". Bedfordindependent.co.uk. 9 October 2019.
  6. "Bedford River Festival – heritage and culture". The Bedford Clanger. 12 July 2018.
  7. "Lazing by the River | bedford bypass". Bedford Bypass. 8 May 2013.
  8. "Bedford River Festival". Bedford.gov.uk.
  9. "Bedford River Festival to be replaced with annual family festival". Bedford Independent. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.

52.134°N 0.462°W / 52.134; -0.462

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