Wyre Council is excited to announce plans for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations later this year.
Whether you are looking to host a street party or join an event there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion.
The celebrations will begin on Wednesday 1 June with the opening of the Through the Decades exhibition at the Jubilee marquee at Wyre Council’s Civic Centre. The Mayor of Wyre will open the exhibition at 3pm which will then be open until 6pm, as well as on Thursday 2 June from 10am to 5pm and Friday 3 June from 10am to 12 noon. The exhibition will span the 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign. Come along and see replicas, scrap books, quizzes and fashion of the eras. You will have an opportunity to guess the objects, play traditional children’s games, make music on old bottles, rummage through button boxes and browse comics, knitting patterns and annuals.
On Thursday 2 June communities from the four corners of the nation and the Commonwealth will come together to light over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons. Beacons will be lit locally at the Mount in Fleetwood and at Cherestanc Square in Garstang.
There will be plenty to enjoy on the day in the lead up. Bring the whole family to the Mount gardens to enjoy free outdoor theatre performances of Alice in Wonderland at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Then, why not head down to the beach, you could even make your own sandcastle palace or treat yourself to a chippy tea before heading back to the Mount for the beacon lighting which starts at 9pm. There will be live music, entertainment and speeches before the lighting of the Beacon at 9.45pm as the sun goes down.
In Garstang celebrations will begin as Garstang Town Crier will deliver the Platinum Jubilee Cry at 2pm. Then in the evening Garstang Town Council is organising entertainment from 7.50pm in Cherestanc Square and will also be lighting a beacon at 9.45pm.
On Friday 3 June, the council is hosting a Terrific Tea Party for some of Wyre’s most isolated residents. Residents from local care homes have been invited, plus the council is working with local NHS services to identify people to invite who wouldn’t normally get the chance to attend such a social occasion. There will be food, fun and music for everyone attending to enjoy. 50 spaces have been reserved to allow people in the community to take part and the council is encouraging local people to nominate a neighbour. If you know someone who has found the last couple of years a challenge, or someone who could use some company to celebrate with, you can put their name forward by emailing artsandevents@wyre.gov.uk. If more than 50 people are nominated a ballot will take place.
Also on Friday 3 June, the family fun continues as the free Alice in Wonderland performances take place at Jean Stansfield Park in Poulton at 11am and 12.30pm and at Cleveleys Plaza at 2.30pm
On Saturday 4 June over in Garstang there will be free performances of Alice in Wonderland at Millennium Green at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. You can also pack up your picnic and join the Giant Jubilee Picnic at the green from 11am to 3pm. Sit back and enjoy the performances or have a go at some fun family games.
Sunday 5 June is marked nationally as the day for The Big Jubilee Lunch and people are invited to share friendship, food and fun with neighbours as part of the celebrations. A big jubilee lunch can be big or small - street party or picnic, tea and cake or a garden barbeque so get planning with your neighbours and make it an occasion to remember. The council has set up a simplified application process to encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Advice and the street party application form for Wyre can be found at www.wyre.gov.uk/jubilee
Councillor Lynne Bowen, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Community Engagement at Wyre council comments, “This is an occasion to celebrate! There are so many ways to get involved and we are delighted to be hosting a range of events to bring the community together. If you’re planning a street party we are here to help, just complete our simple application form and we can let you know what you need to do. Similarly if you are hosting an event for the public, let us know – we’d love to promote everything that’s going on across Wyre.”