Knaresborough Lions Club has announced the theme of the Best Dressed Bed Competition at next year’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race. 

The annual event is the highlight of the town’s summer and sees 630 people – 90 teams, each with six runners and a passenger – cover a 2.4-mile course through streets and the River Nidd. 

Before the race, the teams gather at Knaresborough Castle, with both beds and team members dressed up to suit the year’s theme, before parading through the town with marching bands and dance groups. 

Suggestions for this year’s theme came in from club members, runners and event supporters, and in the end, the judges’ choice was Great Inventions And Technology Through The Ages, and idea from long-time Bed Race supporters from Somerset, Joe Fielder and Caroline Fletcher. 

Knaresborough Lions Club’s Martin Brock, who chairs the event committee, said: 

Knaresborough Lions Club has already started work on organising the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 8. It is seeking permissions for land usage and road closures, and will open the race to entries on January 1. 

In the meantime, the Santa’s sleigh and Lions mulled wine wagon will be making their annual appearances in Knaresborough. Father Christmas will be appearing at the town’s Christmas market next weekend (December 2-3), where mulled wine will be on sale. 

Santa’s sleigh will also start touring Knaresborough's streets from Monday (November 27). 

The club is also inviting final entries for its community fund, which closes this Thursday (November 30). Local constituted clubs and groups are invited to apply for small grants as part of the fund. Full details and an application form can be found on the club’s website. 

Read more:

• 'Absolutely sickening': 20 Christmas trees stolen in Knaresborough


• Knaresborough Christmas Market Weekend — details revealed


• Bed race and beer festival success lead to grants in Knaresborough