Our top picks for August

Music in the Meadows

Music in the Meadows returns to the bandstand in Mill Meadows every Sunday this month from 3pm to 5pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing summer afternoon with traditional, family friendly, bandstand music.

Sunday 6 August

Rushden Mission Band

A concert brass band, established in 1898. An exciting new addition to the concert programme.

Sunday 13 August

May Blossom Vintage Songbird

Bubbly songs for all ages from 1900 to the mid-1960’s, with plenty of 1940’s favourites.

Sunday 20 August

Fynnius Fogg (2pm to 5pm)

Formed in the late 60’s, this foursome play a mixture of upbeat 60’s to 80’s music to get your feet tapping.

Sunday 27 August

Bedford Town Band

Proudly supporting Bedford events, this big band were established in 1894 and display an abundance of talent.

Guided walks

There are eight different guided walking tours with the Bedford Association of Tour Guides for visitors and residents of Bedford Borough to discover, each full of history and fascinating stories. The different tours are an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and entertaining journey through the thousand-year history of Bedford, led by qualified members of the Bedford Association of Tour Guides. Subjects include John Bunyan, Bedford in World War II, The Embankment, and the rise and fall of Bedford Castle. Each tour costs just £3 per person, or £1.50 for children over eight years old. It is also possible to book bespoke tours for groups.

The Higgins Bedford

Craft Workshops

Every Tuesday in August we have fun and exciting craft workshops for children aged five to twelve. Each one takes inspiration from the current Edward Bawden Trains, Planes and Automobiles exhibition. There are sessions through the day at 11.15am, 12.45pm, and 2.15pm and last around an hour and cost £5 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Book online or call 01234 718044

Puggle Club

Puggle Club is a new regular drop-in workshop for three to five year olds and runs every Friday afternoon through the summer holidays at The Higgins Bedford. It’s free, you can just drop-in from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Bedford Borough Libraries

Summer Reading Challenge 2023

Ready, Set, Read! is the theme for the Summer Reading Challenge at Bedford Borough Libraries this year. It runs until Saturday 9 September and promises to be an exciting and engaging programme for children aged four to eleven.

Children are invited to earn rewards for reading through the summer. There is also a fun activity pack to complete which includes scratch and sniff stickers!

There are also free craft activities at each library:

Remember, children can join the Summer Reading Challenge on the mobile library too!

Best Start Bedford Borough

The Best Start Bedford Borough website is a free resource for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 5 years of age and the practitioners that work with them. Discover all sorts of things to do for 0 to 5 year olds in Bedford Borough.

Museum for a Day

Local artist, Desiree Bashi, is asking local residents to share stories of objects that are meaningful to them for a one day exhibition. It could be jewellery, an item of clothing, a statue, a favourite toy, or any object at all! If you have a treasured object with a tale to tell, please share your story with Desiree. Even if you can’t make it on the day your story could still become part of this one off exhibition.

Visit the Museum for a Day at at the Harpur Suite, Bedford, on Sunday 6 August, 10am to 4pm.

Subject to additional funding, your stories could be included in a book.