Waverley paddlesteamer and James Bond will add extra excitement to Bideford Summer Fair 2025

The Waverley paddlesteamer and a dazzling display of flyboarding acrobatics over the water will amp up the excitement for this year’s Bideford Summer Fair.

The popular event on Saturday, June 7 in Victoria Park will see the historic Waverley dock at Bideford Quay during the afternoon plus the town will welcome its first ever visit by the James Prestwood Flyboard Display.

Using a water powered flyboard and a jet ski controlled by remote, James will perform an array of airborne stunts, back flips, twists, ‘supermans’ and more as he defies gravity above the river.

Above: The James Prestwood Flyboarding Display will perform twice at Bideford Summer Fair. Credit: James Prestwood

As ever, Bideford Summer fair promises to have plenty for people to see and do, with stalls, entertainment, music, dancing, games, welly wanging and the popular Bideford Fair Dog Show.

It begins at 10.45am with the Mayor’s Procession from Allhalland Street to the park, where the mayor of Bideford will officially declare the fair open at 11.10am.

Above: The Bideford Town Crier will read a proclamation following the Mayor’s Parade and at the opening of Bideford Summer Fair. Credit: Graham Hobbs

Then there will be an opportunity to browse the stalls and enjoy a range of entertainment including Jumping Jacks Comedy Stunt Show at 11.45am and 3.45pm, a performance by Sarah Ann Westcott Dance School at 1pm, plus the Paddling pool Race at 1pm, with the Carry On Choir at 1.30pm, James Prestwood Flyboard Display at 2pm and 3.15pm plus much more.

The historic paddlesteamer Waverley is set to dock at 3.15pm and depart at 4.20pm.

Above: The Waverley paddlesteamer will be docked at Bideford Quay on Summer Fair afternoon. Credit: Graham Hobbs

The Bideford Fair Dog Show invites owners and their canine companions to arrive at 12.10pm with showing from 12.30.

Categories for the free fun event are The Waggiest Tail, Most Handsome, Best Rescue, Looks Most Like Their Owner, Prettiest Dog and Coolest Pup.

For those wondering what flyboarding is, a flyboard rider stands on a board with his feet strapped into boots, which is connected to a 23-metre hose. The other end of this hose connects to a 300 horse power jet ski and with this power, the jet ski can push the board up to 18 metres in the air.

James Prestwood has been flyboarding for nine years, after seeing it done in Ibiza and deciding to buy the kit and give it a go.

He was first asked to do a small show in his home town of Torquay and now does shows all over the county including Torquay Air Show, Dartmouth Regatta, Southampton boat show and even shows in Ireland and Malta.

You can find out more at the Bideford’s Summer Fair and Mayor’s Parade event page on Facebook.