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Fakenham Riverside Festival, Duck and Raft Races Sunday, 16 June 2024

The 2024 Fakenham Riverside Community Day will return on Sunday 16th June. An exciting and fun day with the Great Fakenham Duck Race, the popular Cardboard Raft Races and the Giant Sponsored Duck Race, with ducks sponsored and decorated by  local businesses.. As well as the races there will be stalls, hot food, tea, cakes and bouncy castles. New this year will be free, fun based mini burst pop up join in activities. It is set just a few hundred metres from the town centre next to the beautiful river Wensum. Entry is free and people are welcome to bring a picnic.

 

Ducks are only one pound, and the bouncy castles are five pounds for an all-day wrist band. The day kicks off at 10.00am with a display of the cardboard rafts built by local people where the best dressed raft will be judged. There is a chance to check out the bouncy castles and stalls. The rafts take to the water at around 11. 00. 

 

The raft races will be followed by the giant sponsored duck race at 12.30 with the ducks on display beforehand when more judging will take place.

 

The Great Fakenham Duck Race will start at 1.00 pm . Ducks will be on sale on the day. As well as cash prizes for the winners there will be spontaneous prizes awarded for ducks that struggling or just popular with the crowd.

 

There will be hot and cold food, a Hog Roast, vegetarian food, stalls run by local organisations and the bouncy castles will charge a single £5 fee for all day access . . There will be strong coffee, hot food and cake for wilting adults


Richard Crook, from Active Fakenham, said,

 

“We have some exciting new additions this year. There will be a new exercise zone where local fitness organisations will be doing free, short fun based mini burst pop up sessions at the sound of the siren. Dance and exercise based these will be for all levels of fitness.

 

As well as cash prizes for the winners of the duck races there will be random prizes throughout the race. 

 

This is always a popular event. It’s a beautiful setting and we expect some excellent entertainment. We would like to thank the Osprey Canoe Club, the Fakenham and District Rotary Club and everyone who is helping out. We have had tremendous support from local businesses which are sponsoring and decorating  Giant Ducks. We still have a couple of spare ducks that need sponsoring, and we always need more helpers – contact richard@activefakenham.org.uk

 

There is a short film and photos of previous events on the Active Fakenham website and social media. There is no parking (except limited disabled parking/drop off) or toilets at the site but there is free parking in Olivet Way (about a 10 minute walk) and local pubs and shops have agreed to allow people to use toilet facilities and public toilets are in Bridge Street. 

 

Details are on the Active Fakenham website and social media. The event takes place at Goggs Mill Road, in the field by the bridge.

 

Any money raised will go towards local Fakenham events and Active Fakenham is supporting Fakenham First Focus and local schools with this event.

 

 

 

NOTES

  1. For more information contact Richard Crook 07887 803091 richard@activefakenham.org.uk
  2.   https://www.activefakenham.org.uk/2024-riverside-community-day-raft-races-and-duck-races
  3.  Active Fakenham is looking for volunteers to help with the event – if this is you please contact Richard Crook 07887 803091 or email richard@activefakenham.org.uk
  4. There will be Active Fakenham photographers at the event.
31 Jan, 2024
Fakenham is again hosting its annual Easter day of racing for all ages. An exciting day to join in with or to just enjoy the spectacle from one of the local cafes or pubs which adjoin the circuit. The morning is for runners of all ages and abilities and is followed by an afternoon of exciting Criterium cycle road racing. Roads in the town centre are closed for the day as Fakenham plays host to some of the best racing in the region. There is serious racing but also many people join for the personal challenge. The 5 K run is followed by a Fun Run which is particularly popular with children, but also many adults take part. There is even a Toddle’n’Trike for the little ones. Every child participating is given a drawstring goody bag with chocolate and fruit, and of course all runners get a medal for completing the course. There are prizes and trophies for the winners. In the afternoon lightning fast Criterium cycle racing takes place on the one kilometre circuit. Each race lasts forty or fifty minutes so spectators get to see the riders many times. Riders reach speeds of nearly 40mph. Spectators, friends and family can cheer on participants as they ride, sprint, jog or walk round the course. There will be commentary and stalls with food and more. The town centre will be closed to traffic for the day,(8.00am to 6.00pm) The runs and cycle races are official UK Athletics and British Cycling events, and are run under their rules. Richard Crook, from Active Fakenham said, “We are thrilled to bring this popular event back to the town. We try to make it exciting for everyone whether they are joining in or just watching and cheering. This annual event has been going since 2016 and we have had runners in their 80s and cyclists as young as two. Criterium cycle racing is an exciting spectacle as the riders pass close to spectators and because it’s a small circuit can be seen many times during the race. Like all Active Fakenham events we keep prices low and its free to watch. We are particularly proud of our women’s criterium race which has attracted top riders from across the country and beyond but also gives the opportunity for all levels of women riders to take part.” Organisers would like to thank in advance the many people who make this happen and also apologise for any inconvenience for the roads that need to be closed. Registration is now open, and details are on the Active Fakenham website. Numbers of entries are limited but there are likely to be places available on the day. . Notes 1. Photos are available from Active Fakenham richard@activefakenham.org.uk 2. More information from Richard Crook richard@activefakenham.org.uk 07887 803091
01 Jan, 2024
Active Fakenham Criterium Races 31 March 2024 See race results HERE Entries are open on the day for all races
By proadAccountId-425925 06 Oct, 2023
Ride North Norfolk 2024 ✿ ☀ ♫
By proadAccountId-425925 27 Sep, 2023
Join us for the Giant Duck Race Active Fakenham, in partnership the Fakenham and District Rotary Club, is thrilled to be putting on this event. Join us to watch these ducks. Why your business should join in We hope your business decides to support this community project. We will aim to make the event as much fun as possible and encourage participation and attendance. We will also help promote your duck (and therefore your business). Any money raised will go towards community events in Fakenham and a contribution is also being made to Fakenham First Focus. We will aim to do this by: • listing entries on our website • posting on social media (we do Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) • distributing press and media releases • the event will be photographed and filmed (tbc) and these will be available to you as well as shared on social media and websites - we will arrange a photo shoot at the Bridge in Goggs Mill Road at Goggs Mill Bridge prior to the event. This will go in the local paper. Winners prizes include 1. First Prize TBC 2. A bottle of Champagne For more information and to download the entry form as a PDF HERE or as a WORD Doc HERE Active Fakenham would like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring a duck in the 2022 Corporate Duck Race. Any funds raised will go to local events and local charities Aldiss Butcher Andrews Solicitors Carben Construction Dempsey Heating Des Cooper Hairdressers Eastern Daily Press Fakenham & District Rotary Club Fakenham and Wells Times Fakenham Garden Centre Fakenham Infant School Fakenham Junior School First Focus GJL animal feeds Grove Veterinary hospital and clinics H Banham Ltd Hayes and Storr Larking Gowan M D Williamson Carpets Ltd Nod Butcher and Son Original Factory Shop Ploegor UK Soil Fertility Services? Sports & Fitness Centre Stephenson Smart ✿ ☀ ♫
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