Diamond Jubilee Weekend
GREAT SUMMER IN BEDFORD BOROUGH – CELEBRATING THE
DIAMOND JUBILEE
The Great Summer in Bedford Borough continues from the 2nd to
the 5th June with local celebrations to commemorate the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee.
Across the borough families and friends are getting together to
commemorate the Jubilee. As part of the celebrations Bedford
Borough Council is organising a four day extravaganza focused on
Russell Park and the Embankment.
Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd June will see the International
Kite Festival take on a royal theme. Expect to see the usual mix of
high flyers, giant creations and colourful tails fluttering above
Russell Park. There’s also an opportunity to fly your own kite,
visit the Craft Marquee and browse the many stalls around the
site.
Also on Sunday join Bedford Borough Council’s The Higgins Art
Gallery and Museum for the Big Victorian Jubilee Picnic. The event
takes place on the lawn of The Higgins with everyone invited to
dress up, bring a picnic and join the flag and bunting making fest.
Or if music is your thing Bedford Town Band will be performing from
3pm to 5pm at the Mill Meadows bandstand.
Monday will see the final of the Battle of the bands with a
chance to hear the winners play live before they hit the main stage
at this years River Festival in July. Warm up heats have already
been organised with the previous winners set to battle it out
across the afternoon from 12pm on Russell Park. Who out of The
Scruff, Albany Down, Joy Radio, Brigante, Kastaphor and Kam Singh
will be victorious?
Join the fun on Tuesday as an “It’s a Knockout” style
competition takes over. Hilarious and fun to both play and
watch the competition will take teams of 10 through 8 fun-packed
games across Russell Park. Those brave enough to take part should
visit www.bedfordevents.co.uk for
more information.
Finally, why not channel your inner child at a special Teddy
Bear’s Picnic on Tuesday afternoon?! Between 12.30 and 2.30pm
teddies far and wide will be travelling to Russell Park to enjoy a
spot of lunch as part of the Jubilee celebrations. So why not dust
off your favourite old bear and enjoy an afternoon full of cake,
competition and even more memories to treasure?
Also at the Picnic Priory Methodist (Newnham Avenue), Christ
Church and Russell Park Baptist Church (both located on Denmark
Street) will be working together to put on activities for all the
family. These include face painting, a puppet show, preparing a
giant thank you for the Queen and singing with Castle Community
Choir.
Mayor of Bedford Borough Dave Hodgson said: “Across the summer
we’ve organised a fantastic variety of events for all the family to
come and take part in. We’re marking the Jubilee with four days of
activities along the embankment and at Russell Park and I urge
everyone to come along and join the celebrations.”
Further events planned as part of the The Great Summer
In Bedford Borough include:
- On Sunday 8th July, Bedford welcomes the Olympic
Flame into the borough as part of its 8,000 mile, 70 day journey
across the UK. Thousands of people are expected to line the route
and cheer on the torchbearers as the Flame travels through Bedford
from Goldington Road and on to Cotton End.
- The 2012 River Festival takes place on 21st and
22nd July and is expected to attract more than 250,000
people to Russell Park and the Embankment across the weekend. The
River Festival is the biggest free event in the region and one of
the largest in the country providing a huge range of entertainment
and fun for the whole family.
- Bedford Borough will also be involved with the 2012 London
Olympics when the International Athletics Stadium becomes an
‘Olympic Live Site’ between the 3rd and 10th
of August. A big screen will be showing the best of the action live
throughout the week while local sports groups will be offering
everyone the chance to challenge themselves at a range of sports
and activities.
For more information, please use the links on the left hand
side.