Bedford Borough Council has announced that the Bedford River Festival and the Kite and Motoring Festival are being postponed until 2022.

With ongoing uncertainty about big outdoor events this summer due to COVID-19 and the months of planning required to organise the River Festival particularly, as one of the largest free festivals in the UK, the Council has decided to postpone these events. 

Mayor Dave Hodgson said “This is not a decision that was taken lightly. Large gatherings are still not permitted under Government guidance and with the amount of work and time needed to plan these Festivals, particularly the River Festival, and ongoing uncertainty about how long these measures will have to be in place, we were unfortunately left with little choice but to postpone these events to next year.

“We know this is disappointing news. After postponing these events last year, we were really looking forward to bringing them back in all their glory this summer. But the safety of the public is our number one priority, and we are looking ahead to next year.

“Thank you to our Festival sponsors and supporters for their understanding and support.

““As we move through the year, more people are vaccinated and hopefully restrictions can be eased, we will be exploring options for smaller summer events, so please watch this space.”

The planned new date for the next River Festival is 23rd & 24th July 2022. The Council will continue to keep traders, exhibitors, local residents and businesses informed.