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.