RIVERFEST 2026
| DATE: | Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th July, 2026 |
| WHEN: | See running times below |
| LOCATION 1: | The Weir at Emberton Country Park, off the A509 |
| LOCATION 2: | Riverfest field, South of Swimming Steps, Recreation Ground off East Street, Olney |
The Riverfest event on Sunday is free entry for all, but tickets must be purchased for the Saturday events of the Cheeky Dog Man Show and the Riverfest Comedy Night. See below for details.
Riverfest Weekend
Olney Riverfest 2026 returns on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July for a packed weekend of family entertainment, live music, food stalls, charity activities, paddleboard racing and the famous Olney Raft Race along the River Great Ouse.
Organised by The Olney Group, Riverfest has become one of Buckinghamshire’s best-loved summer community events, attracting visitors from Olney, Milton Keynes, Bedford and across the local area.
This year's Riverfest is proudly sponsored by Jarden Vets - Olney's Independent, Compassionate Veterinary Practice.
Here's whats on:
Saturday 4th
On the Saturday we have a childrens' entertainer in the afternoon, and a night of stand up comedy in the evening.
Tickets are now available to buy now, see link below
Cheeky Dog Show man at 4PM
Riverfest Comedy Night at 7:30PM
Sunday 5th
The Paddleboard Time Trial & Raft Race is FREE to watch and combines a Duck Race, an amateur Paddleboard time trial, an amateur Raft Race, plus craft, food and drink stalls, Great Gappo Circus Man plus live bands.
| 1200 - 1225: | The Olney Hearts Club Band - local young people's guitar group |
| 1235 - 1335: | Sandy Ukelele Group |
| 1400 - 1455: | The PommyGranites |
| 1500: | Raft Race results |
| 1520 - 1555: | Natalie Stevenson |
| 1615 - 1700: | The Recollections |
The Raft Race
See below for full details
The Raft Race
The Duck Race is run by the 1st Olney Scouts group. Tickets can be purchased from their stall on the Market Place on Saturday and Sunday, and from 10:30am near the Weir in Emberton Country Park.
If you’d like to take part in the Raft Race or have a stall, see below.
Riverfest Locations
As in previous years, this will be a dual location event. If you live locally, please walk or cycle to the event.
Location 1:
The Weir at Emberton Country Park
off the A509
The Scouts will provide a food stall at the start
Duck Race (starts and finishes here)
Paddleboards time trial starts here
Raft Race starts here
Running times:
11:15am: Scrutineering starts
11:45am: Draw for participants running order
12:00pm: Duck Race (weir to A509 bridge)
12:45pm: Paddleboarders time trial starts
1pm approx.: Raft Race starts after all Paddleboarders have departed
Location 2:
Riverfest field
South of Swimming Steps, Recreation Ground off East Street
Food and craft stalls
Paddleboard time trial finishes here, at the Swimming Steps
Raft Race finishes here, at the Swimming Steps
Live bands
Running times:
12:00pm: Stalls open, including food outlets
Live bands start in marquee (see below)
1pm: Competitors begin arriving at Swimming Steps, time approx.
3:00pm: Competitor's presentations on band stage in marquee
5:00pm: Bands finish
For everyone’s safety, we kindly ask that no glass bottles are brought onto the fields.
Thank you for helping us keep the event safe and enjoyable for all.
The TOG team would like to say a big thank you to Ringway who have kindly provided Traffic Management on the A509 road bridge at the start of The Duck and Raft Race element of Olney RiverFest to maintain pedestrian safety for several years now.
We are very grateful to them as they provide this service free of charge especially as it’s on a Sunday!
Getting to the event
See How to find us.
What’s on at the Riverfest field?
While you wait for the competitors to arrive at the swimming steps, there’s lots to do. We’ll have food, charity, craft stalls, children’s fairground rides and, of course, don’t forget the bars. Why not take a day off from the hassle of bringing along a picnic? We have catered for a wide range of tastes, with a fantastic array of food outlet stalls.
THERE’S MORE!!
Come and browse our great selection of craft stalls. Why not treat yourself or find a gift for someone special, something unique is waiting for you. Don’t forget that our local charities will be there fundraising and have advice on hand. And, in the marquee, you’ll find the band stage featuring live music.
Live bands
We’ll have a band stage in the marquee, with entertainments from 12.00 – 5.00pm:
Bands and times to be confirmed.
Would you like to participate?
Enter a Raft race Team, or the Paddleboard Race.
Solo Paddles - £5 (over 18’s only, individual timed race)
Rafts - £20
Would you like a stall at Riverfest?
Pitches are 5m x 5m. Pitch costs are £70 for food and alcohol stalls, £55 for hot drinks stalls, £30 for business and craft stalls, and FOC for charity stalls.