Saturday 1st March until Saturday 8th March

The Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama was founded in 1921 and provides a showcase for the wealth of talent in the amateur performing arts in Bedfordshire and the surrounding area. The Festival offers a wide range of classes for all ages covering most musical genres including Classical, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Asian music, as well as many varied Speech and Drama classes including Verse Speaking, Acting, Mime and Improvisation. It features categories for school groups, Special School groups, orchestras, wind bands, junior and senior choirs and group creative performance.

Run by a Committee of volunteers and a part-time Secretary, the Festival is a charity. The organisers are extremely grateful to the Festival’s supporters, its Individual and Corporate Friends, for their financial support, without which the Festival would not take place.

The Festival takes place at the Bedford Corn Exchange during the first week of March each year.

One of the most exciting days in Festival week is the first Saturday – known officially as ‘Choir Day’.

Choirs and vocal groups of all sizes, ages and backgrounds gather at the Corn Exchange to perform their repertoire of work – from the tiny children who make up the primary school choirs through to the experienced adult groups – everyone is there to share their love of singing

This year, Choir Day will take place on Saturday 1st March, kicking of the Festival in incredible vocal style.

Members of the public are always very welcome to come and watch classes during the week.

Tickets are available to buy from the Box Office at the Corn Exchange every day. Tickets are priced £2.50 each and under 10s are free. There is also a ‘season ticket’ option available if visitors want to come and watch several times, this is £13.

The Festival Gala Concert takes place on 8thh March (event starts at 6:30pm) tickets are also £2.50 and free for under 10s.