Glastonbury will hear RITS Day coming before much of the town sees it, as the annual motorcycle ride-out and family fun day returns on Sunday, 30 August. Riders In The Sky will once again take over Tor Leisure for a day raising money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in memory of Lee Baker.

The motorcycles are the headline act in the morning, before the event shifts into a free family fun day from midday, with live music, children's entertainment, food and drink, stalls, rides, a raffle and an auction running into the evening.

Here's everything you need to know before heading down.

When and where is RITS Day 2026?

RITS Day takes place on Sunday, 30 August 2026, at Tor Leisure, Glastonbury, BA6 9EF.

The motorcycle ride-out takes place during the morning, with riders returning to Tor Leisure before the family fun day gets into full swing.

The main timings are:

• By 10 am: sign-in closes for riders taking part in the ride-out
• Morning: charity motorcycle ride-out
• 12 noon: family fun day begins at Tor Leisure
• Until late: music, entertainment, food, stalls, raffle and auction

Anyone planning to watch the motorcycles should expect plenty of activity around Tor Leisure and through Glastonbury as the riders head out and return.

How much does RITS Day cost?

The family fun day is free to enter, although donations to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance are welcomed throughout the event.

For motorcyclists joining the charity ride-out, entry costs £10 per bike. Riders need to make sure they are signed in before registration closes at 10 am.

The fundraising does not stop with the ride-out. Money will also be raised through donations, the raffle and auction during the day.

What is the RITS ride-out?

RITS stands for Riders In The Sky, and the motorcycle ride-out sits at the heart of the event.

The group was created in memory of Lee Baker, a father and keen motorcyclist who died in a motorcycle crash in 2010. Lee had also been a committed charity fundraiser, taking part in everything from sponsored skydives to charity calendars.

His friends and family wanted to organise something that reflected both his love of motorcycles and his enthusiasm for raising money for good causes. The result became RITS Day, with riders gathering in Glastonbury for a charity ride through the Somerset countryside before returning for the afternoon's entertainment.

Previous events have brought hundreds of motorcycles together, making their departure and return one of the day's biggest spectacles.

Where does the ride-out go?

The event involves a roughly 70-mile motorcycle ride-out, beginning and ending at Tor Leisure.

The bikes leave Glastonbury together and return through the town later in the day. For anyone who prefers watching motorcycles to actually sitting on one, Glastonbury High Street is traditionally one of the places to catch the procession as it passes.

With a large number of motorcycles travelling together, drivers may experience brief delays while the ride passes. Bike marshals are used to help the procession move safely, so anyone caught waiting for a few minutes may as well enjoy the view — it is not every Sunday that several hundred motorbikes provide the traffic.

What's happening at the family fun day?

From midday, attention turns back to Tor Leisure, where the free family fun day runs until late.

Visitors can expect:

• Live music from local bands
• Food and drink
• Children's entertainment and rides
• Stalls
• A raffle
• A charity auction

The event is designed as much for families and non-riders as it is for the motorcycle community, so owning a set of leathers is very much optional.

Who is playing at RITS Day?

Live music will run through the family fun day, with a line-up of local bands due to perform at Tor Leisure.

Acts advertised for the 2026 event include SnR, Van Grahams, Dogz Royale, Kings of Indie and 3SEVEN6.

Music forms a major part of the afternoon and evening programme, alongside the stalls, food, entertainment and fundraising activities.

What is RITS Day raising money for?

This year's event is supporting Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, with proceeds from the ride-out and fundraising activities helping the charity.

The service provides critical care to people facing life-threatening emergencies across Dorset and Somerset, with its specialist team able to bring hospital-level emergency treatment to patients at the scene.

RITS has supported the air ambulance through its events for years, turning a gathering created in one man's memory into a significant community fundraiser.

Can businesses and residents still help?

Organisers have been appealing for support ahead of Sunday's event, including donations for the raffle and charity auction.

Businesses and individuals have been encouraged to offer prizes such as vouchers, meals, hampers, attraction tickets, beauty treatments, motorcycle accessories, gifts, experiences and sporting memorabilia.

Riders In The Sky has also sought sponsorship for the distinctive pink high-visibility vests worn by bike marshals, whose job is to help the ride-out run smoothly and safely.

Is RITS Day suitable for families?

Yes. While the morning revolves around motorcycles, the afternoon event at Tor Leisure is billed as a family fun day.

Children's entertainment and rides are among the attractions planned, alongside food, stalls and live music. Entry is free, although families may want some money for individual attractions, food and fundraising activities during the day.

And for youngsters who like motorcycles, there will be rather more to look at than the average trip into Glastonbury.

Why is RITS Day held?

RITS Day continues in memory of Lee Baker, who died on 8 November 2010.

Friends described Lee as a devoted father, keen motorcyclist and enthusiastic fundraiser. After his death, those close to him decided that a motorcycle event raising money for charity would be a fitting way to remember him.

That original idea has endured, bringing riders, families, volunteers and local businesses together while raising money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

So whether you're joining the ride, waiting to see the bikes roll through town or heading to Tor Leisure for the music and family activities, Sunday promises to be one of Glastonbury's louder bank holiday traditions — and one with a serious cause beneath all that engine noise.

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