Guide to this weekend's Great Knaresborough Bed Race

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Knaresborough's biggest event of the year returns on Saturday (June 14).

The Great Knaresborough Bed race, which has been held annually since 1966, attracts tens of thousands of people to the town.

They watch a mixture of serious and fun teams push their decorated beds around Knaresborough and through the River Nidd.

The Stray Ferret has put together a full guide to the event, so you know where to be, when to be there and how to get there.

What is the Great Knaresborough Bed Race?

The bed race is an annual event held in Knaresborough on the second Saturday in June. Almost 100 teams of six runners push a specially made metal ‘bed’ round the 2.4-mile course. Each bed must have a person on it, who is usually light, often a child.

Who organises it?

The bed race is organised by Knaresborough Lions Club, a volunteer-run charity. The race generates money which helps to fund local initiatives in the Knaresborough area.

What happens during the day?

The bed race has two parts. Firstly, teams gather at the castle grounds to display their fancy-dress outfits and themed beds. The best-dressed bed will be announced, and prizes given.

The teams then parade through the town to Conyngham Hall, where the race begins. The start of the parade to the end of the race usually lasts a few hours. Ninety teams will take part and will set off at intervals, the fastest first.

What time will the race start?

The beds gather at the castle from 9am to 11am.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:

11am – Best-dressed beds judging

Judging begins of the best-dressed beds at the Castle Grounds.

12pm – Best-dressed winners announced

The announcement of best-dressed beds and competition winners at the Castle Grounds.

12pm – Attractions open

The opening of attractions at Conyngham Hall Fields, including amusements, fete, charity stalls, bars and food etc.

1pm – Parade

Starting from Castlegate, the Parade of decorated beds, bands, floats, dancing and marching groups, parade through Knaresborough town centre to Conyngham Hall.

2.45pm – Bed Race welcome ceremony

Welcome ceremony at Conyngham Hall Fields by the Mayor of Knaresborough.

3pm – Bed Race starts

Teams set off at intervals of a few seconds.

3.15pm-4pm – Bed Race finishers arrive at the finish line

The faster teams complete it in under 15 minutes, with the slowest taking about double that time.

5pm – Presentation of prizes

The announcement of winners and display of times.

Will there be disruption to travel?

There will be a number of road closures throughout the day, so plan your journey accordingly. Train travel will not be affected, but services may be busier than usual.

The road closures are as follows:

Knaresborough Market Place and the roads leading to the Market Place will shut from 10am.

The A59 Boroughbridge Road will close from the junction with the High Street at midday. It will be closed up to the Stockwell Road junction.

At the same time, the A59 will close from the bus station in Knaresborough up to Harrogate Golf Club. 

The small stretch of Boroughbridge Road, from the Asda petrol station to Bond End, will be accessible for residents in Byards Park. 

High Bond End will close as far as Lands Lane, according to the event organisers.

Other roads that are part of the course will shut from 2pm. This includes Waterside (from The World's End pub) to Castle Ings, which will be closed in its entirety, according to the organisers.

Knaresborough Lions said the closures will be staggered, but roads will reopen under the police’s direction.

Some roads could remain shut until around 6pm if crowds are heavy.

Organisers also said a diversion to Harrogate will be in place, which will direct people from Briggate to Calcutt and Forest Moor Road, and buses will follow this route.

Can I park?

Due to road closures, people travelling to the event by car are advised to arrive early.

There will be a free park-and-ride service operated by Connexions. It will depart from GSPK Design on Manse Lane.

The park-and-ride bus service will run from 10am. It will drop passengers off on Chapel Street, behind Sainsbury's. 

In the event the drop-off point changes, the bus will pick people up from the new point. 

The car park at GSPK will be locked at 6pm, so plan accordingly.

King James’s School car park will also be open. It costs £5 to park there all day and the money will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Trains to Knaresborough will also run on Saturday.

Where can I watch the race from?

The castle allows you to experience the atmosphere and see the beds before the parade.

From the High Street, you can watch the parade and listen to the music played by the marching bands.

The teams start on Conyngham Hall Field. They will then travel through Castle Ings, Market Place, High Street and past the World‘s End pub and over High Bridge.

Many spectators watch the river crossing in Mackintosh fields or as they cross the finish line at Conyngham Hall.

A large screen will be in place in Conyngham Hall field - so head there if you want to watch all the action as it happens.

There will be a disabled viewing area in the Market Place.

Where can I eat and drink?

Knaresborough has a wide selection of pubs and cafés, which will remain open for the event. Refreshments will also be available from stalls at the Conyngham Hall Fields.

As it is forecast to be 22 degrees celsius on Saturday, bring plenty of water.

Can I bring alcohol?

The organisers have asked people not to bring alcohol into the Conyngham Hall grounds. Licensed bars are available on site.

Where can I get help from on the day?

There will be numerous bed race marshals dotted around the course throughout the day, who are there to answer queries and keep spectators and contestants safe.

Do not cross the roads when the race or the parade is taking place. A safety car will travel behind the last bed to indicate the end of the race.