When is Newburyport Bed Racing? Mark your calendar for the 2023 Newburyport Lion’s Club Bed Races on Thursday, August 3rd at 6 pm on Federal Street in Newburyport. What is Newburyport Bed Racing? It’s a totally fun event during Yankee Homecoming week where folks design and build a bed that is used to race down Federal Street in Newburyport. The starting line is at the intersection of Federal Street and High Street, and the finish line is at the intersection of Federal Street and Water Street across from the Tannery.

2023 Lion’s Club Bed Race Winners:
Fastest Bed – Newburyport Firefighters
Fastest First Responders – Anna Jaques Hospital Nurses
Fastest Restaurant – Oregano Ristorante
Most Creative – Newburyport Youth Services

You will find that the goals of participants are all different. Some are determined to win the race, others are excited to show off their cool bed creations and some are just busy waving at friends. Bed Racing is a very social Newburyport event. Most of the beds are designed and raced by local small businesses. Some of the creations are entertaining and others are impressive, but in all cases the fans get very excited to cheer for their favorite small businesses as they race or saunter down Federal Street.

All are encouraged to come enjoy this event, but if Bed Racing is one of your favorite events during Yankee Homecoming week, then you’re probably from the local Newburyport area as this event is an extremely popular tradition with the Newburyport locals. Bed Racing is an annual event hosted by the Newburyport Lion’s Club. Proceeds benefit the Newburyport Lions Club local charities (eye exams / glasses for the needy, annual Thanksgiving dinner, visual aids for the blind, high school scholarships, local food pantries, etc.).

Newburyport.com recommends arriving early at the bed races so that you have time to stop by the Rotary Club of Newburyport’s annual Beer & Hotdog Fundraiser from 5 – 7 pm in the Tannery parking lot.  Support Local!

If you would like to enter the Bed Races, the registration fee is $30 per bed and you can register up until 6 pm on race day, but you must arrive at 5:00 pm for bed check in. Use the following link for 2023 registration and rule Contact Tara at 978-561-9755 or nbptlionsbedrace@yahoo.com with any questions. If by chance we have severe weather (not just rain) at race time, then this event will be moved to Friday, August 4th at 6 pm. Enjoy our Newburyport.com video coverage from 2015 through 2022 below.