Top ten Jubilee events this weekend

This year Britain is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne. To add to the celebrations, there is an extra bank holiday next week, and with four days off work there will be a stream of celebrations taking place from Saturday 2^nd June till Tuesday 5^th June across the UK.

This historically remarkable event is one for the books. This being the first ever Diamond Jubilee held, all the stops are being pulled to create a memorable four-day weekend for the public to help celebrate the event. Here are the top 10 events London has to offer on this four-day weekend.

The Jubilee Garden Party: Saturday

10am – 6pm, Hampton Court Palace

Head on over to Hampton Court Palace for a 50s British garden party with union jacks, long tables, tea and scones, and free entertainment in the gardens for everyone, including retro village fête games, children’s fancy dress competition, classic 50s hits, and the chance to meet past residents of the Palace.

Gawd Save the Queen – A Jubilee Special: Saturday

10.30pm – 3am, Club De Fromage

The musical entertainment for this evening will be themed to suit the jubilee celebrations, from artists like Queen (get it?) and other pop and rock anthems throughout the ages, from Bon Jovi, The Bangles, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Abba, Spice Girls, MJ, Blur, Tiffany, The Killers, Take That and much more.

Over 18s only; tickets available on the website.

Field Day 2012: Saturday

From 11.30am, Victoria Park

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Field Days celebrations will be colliding with the four-day jubilee event. Since 2007 the small annual event has transformed to become a 20,000-strong audience in Victoria Park. Kick-starting the four-day weekend, there’s something available for festival-goers and the patriotic as both worlds are combined.

The line-up for the event will include: AfroCubism, Andrew Bird, Baxter Dury, Beirut, Errors, Franz Ferdinand, Friends, Gold Panda, Grimes, Hudson Mohawke – Live, Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard, JULIO BASHMORE. Metronomy, Maya Jane Coles, Mazzy Star, Papa M, R. Stevie Moore, Rustie, Spector, Vaccines and Sleigh Bells.

Over 18s only; tickets available on the website.

N16 Jubilee Party: Sunday

12pm – 3pm, Church Street, N16

As far as street parties go, they are pretty much the same small-scaled events – but this year the N16 party will be much larger than any street party you’ve seen before.

It will be taking place on Church Street where you can find the best of British food, market stalls, live music, entertainment and games.

The event is free so bring along family and friends for a fun day out.

Big Jubilee Lunch: Sunday

From 12.30pm, throughout the UK

The Big Lunch is a nation-wide get-together for all the neighbours in your community. Thousands of street lunches have being organised across the UK, with certain roads being closed off to commemorate the event.

At 12.30pm, London’s Piccadilly Big Jubilee Lunch street party will lead the UK in singing the National Anthem to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, with other street parties all over the UK joining in at the same time.

With the local councils receiving over 9,500 road closure applications, this year’s event is set to be the biggest ever. Check your local area to see if any Big Lunches are held in your community or check the Big Lunch website to see how you can get involved and be a part of your community this weekend.

This being the biggest jubilee event during the weekend, it’s the big one you shouldn’t miss out on!

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: Sunday

From 2.30pm, London’s River Crossings

This is also one of the biggest events with weekend, as a 1,000-strong flotilla of boats is set to cruise down the Thames River and pass all 13 of central London’s river crossings (including Tower Bridge and Battersea Bridge).

The Queen, who will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and several other members of the royal family, will travel in the royal barge as a centrepiece of the flotilla. The MV Spirit of Chartwell will then set off from near Albert Bridge at 2.30pm and make its way through all of London’s central river crossings.

This event is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60-year reign, and will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. For a list of all the river’s being passed, and the times, visit their website.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Jubilee Beacons: Monday

10pm, around the UK

More than 4000 beacons will be lit by local communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen will light the last beacon of the day, the National Beacon in the Mall, from the concert stage at Buckingham Palace, by placing a diamond in a specially-designed pod at around 10.30pm to end the four day-celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Visit the website to find out about local events and for a list of the most up to date beacon locations.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace: Monday

Time TBC, Buckingham Palace

The BBC and Gary Barlow are organising this concert, and confirmed acts include Annie Lennox, Stevie Wonder, Madness, Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and JLS.

Although tickets have sold out, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC One and Radio 2, which will be able to be viewed throughout the UK live. So pop into your local pub to watch the event with your community.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Service of Thanksgiving: Tuesday

11am, St Paul’s Cathedral

To wrap up the festivities on the 5^th, the official celebrations will include a morning Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. This event will be attended by the Queen and members of the royal family and 2,000 invited guests. There’s no general admission to the event, but everything will be televised on the day and set to be shown on screens around the UK

The Archbishop of Canterbury will preach at the service, which will be conducted by the Dean of St Paul’s. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will then attend a short reception at Mansion House, which will also be televised.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: Tuesday

From 9.30am, beginning at Old Cattle Market

The tea party, supported by Heston’s Epworth Hall, will begin at 9.30 in the morning at a traditional farmers’ market (Old Cattle Market) and at local stalls along Meneage Street from 11.00am. To help add a little nostalgia to the scene and bring back all the fond memories of the Queen’s 60-year reign, vintage cars will set the feel at the Guildhall end of the street.

At 3pm the tea party will begin alongside live street entertainment. The judging of the hat competition will start at 3.30pm for pre-schoolers, children and adults.

The parade will move off at 5pm with a samba band taking the street party to Events Square next to the boating lake, where more entertainment will be provided from The Blue Anchor Morris Men, De Leves Dancing, Movin Toon, Helston Town Band and Pretty Suite. To add to the atmosphere there will also be a hog roast during the day.

Anyone wanting to book a space for this community event can book a space by calling 01326 568936 or e-mail jubilee@epworthhall.com.

Be sure to check out some of the great celebrations throughout the UK this four day weekend!

Zanib Asghar