Visit Bideford Rotary
Visit Rotary GB & Ireland
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Sunday 6th September 2026
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Bideford Quay
12 midday
Sunday 6th September 2026
Add to calendar
Visit Bideford Rotary
Visit Rotary GB & Ireland
Members

What’s on at the festival

Featured events

Duck Race

Image description Sep 6, 2026 Image description3:00 pm
Buy your ducks(s), £2 each at Morrisons on 29th August and 5th September or on the quay at the Festival on 6th September. Prizes are £50 first prize, £25 second prize, £10 3rd prize.
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Featured

Cardboard Boat Race

Image description Sep 6, 2026 Image description12:30 pm
Registration required
Build and decorate your cardboard boat and paddle against others, either on your own or with a crew, for a chance to win prizes! Decorate in Steampunk style or choose... whatever inspires you.
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Fancy Dress Parade

Image description Sep 6, 2026 Image description12:10 pm
The main theme for this year’s Festival is Steampunk, so let your imagination run riot and dress up to show us what ‘Steampunk’ means to you. Or dress up in whatever inspires you.
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Water activities

(times approximate)

1000 – 1130 Boats arrive at quay and complete registration & sign in

1145 Cardboard boat scrutineering & judging – Best Steampunk Design

1230 Cardboard boat race heats begin

1320 – 1410 North Devon Yacht Club racing on the river

1400 – Cardboard boats Survivors race (s)

1430 – Pilot Gig Race followed by prizegiving

1500 – Duck Race

1530 – Cardboard Boat Prizegiving at Kingsley Steps

Quayside activities

(times approximate)

1200 – Opening the Festival by the Mayor of Bideford

1210- Fancy Dress Parade

1230 – Switchframe Dancers

1300 – Applecorers Shanty Group

1345 – Steve Ellison saxophone

1430 – Artos Bahia Drumming Band

1500 – Jump Jets

1600 – Prize draws for Raffle and Lundy prize

Up Close Radio will broadcast live throughout the festival