Delays expected in Knaresborough as Bed Race concludes

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race saw thousands of residents and visitors of Knaresborough line its streets to cheer on 90 teams as they sped to the finish line at Conyngham Hall today (Saturday, June 13).

The event has been a highlight of the town’s calendar – excluding 2020 and 2021 – since 1966.

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It sees participants, including one passenger sat on a decorated bed, race across Knaresborough in a gruelling course of 2.4 miles.

Each year, teams are also judged on their bed decoration in accordance with a certain subject – with 2026’s event marking 60 years since the inaugural bed race day and a fitting ‘Swinging Sixties’ theme.

Ninety teams took part in this year’s Bed Race – adopting a ‘Swinging Sixties’ theme (Image: Lisa Young – Camera Club)

Speaking about this, chairman of the Bed Race organising committee, Jatinder Khalsi, said: “Themes are changed every year, which keeps the Best Dressed Bed competition fresh and really alive.

“Last term it was TV Adverts and before that we have had Innovations, Entertainment, the Environment, Yorkshire, Heroes and Villains.

“But this year, with its great significance of six decades of Bed Race, what else could we have had as a theme but ‘The Swinging Sixties’?

“The idea is to give the teams the broadest canvas to spark their creative juices to come up with ingenious designs.

“Cross-dressing is a major focus and it all adds up to a wonderful parade through town.”

Delays are expected as closures along Market Place, High Street, Bond End and Harrogate Road lift.