Second time lucky for spectacular flyboard display at Bideford Fair?

An aerial spectacular flyboard display over the water is set to make its Bideford Fair debut this weekend as one of the town’s biggest community celebrations of the year returns.

This Saturday, June 6 will be packed with entertainment in and around Victoria Park, from live music, games and activities to welly wanging, animal encounters and steam train rides.

One of the highlights will be the Bideford debut of dazzling aerial acrobatics with the James Prestwood Flyboard Display – visitors can watch in awe as James performs amazing stunts above the River Torridge on his water jet-powered flyboard.

He was due to perform at the fair for the first time last June, but bad weather postponed the event until August and he was already booked up for elsewhere. This year he will put on two shows, at 10.30am and 12noon.

The fair begins on Saturday at around 10am with the traditional sheep drive across Bideford’s historic Old Bridge, organised by the Institute of Weavers and Shearers.

The spectacle will be followed by a civic procession led by the Mayor of Bideford, making its way through the town before officially opening the fair at Victoria Park at 11.10am.

visitors can also enjoy welly wanging competitions, Morris dancing, live music, choir performances and dance showcases from talented local schools.

Families can look forward to a host of activities including a fun dog show, party games, bouncy castles, go-karts, zorbs, sumo suits and donkey meet-and-greets. There will also be steam train rides, an Exmoor Zoo Encounter Zone and a wide variety of stalls featuring local businesses, charities and community groups.

A special highlight of this year’s fair will be the first-ever Bideford Cream Tea Festival, celebrating one of Devon’s best-loved traditions.

Another attraction will be the eagerly-anticipated Mayor’s Baking Competition, where amateur, professional and junior bakers will compete across a range of categories. Entries open at 11am, with judging beginning at 12noon.

Competition classes include traditional cream teas, savoury bakes, fruit cakes, layered sponge cakes, tray bakes, decorated cakes and a themed ‘Afternoon Tea Showstopper’. There will also be categories for children, including iced biscuits for entrants under 10 years old.

Entry forms are available from https://www.bideford-tc.gov.uk/the-bideford-fair-the-mayors-parade-and-the-cream-tea-festival or can be collected from the Bideford Town Council Portakabin at Riverbank House.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors can enjoy performances from Phoenix Morris Dancers, Carry On Choir, Sarah Ann Westcott Dance School and Louisa Hockin School of Performing Arts, while the popular paddling pool boat race returns from 2pm to 4pm.

Keep up to date with the event on the Bideford Fair and The Mayor’s Parade plus The Mayor’s Cream Tea Festival 2026 Facebook page.