FOUR DAYS of celebrations, featuring activities for all ages, will be held across Reading to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
It includes the return of Water Fest, a special tribute concert, and nearly 60 street parties in every corner of the borough.
The events launch on Thursday, June 2, with a beacon lighting ceremony in Forbury Gardens. Reading’s beacon will be one of 1,500 lit across the country in recognition of the Queen’s service.
To make the event, which starts at 9.15pm, special, there will be performances from Reading Scottish Pipe Band and Reading Male Voice Choir. Entry will be free, but ticketed. These will be available to reserve from Thursday, May 6.
For those who want to take part, but unable to get a ticket, the event will be streamed online.
There will be two concerts over the Jubilee weekend.
On Friday, June 4, the Abbey Ruins will be hosting tributes to Queen, The Beatles and George Michael, among others, for a night with the stars under the stars. The fun starts at 4.30pm, and again tickets will need to be booked.
Trinity Concert Band will be performing a children’s concert at Forbury Gardens on Sunday, June 5, from 3pm. This brings the annual children’s festival to a close.
Water Fest runs from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, June 4, in Forbury Gardens, the Abbey Ruins and along the River Kennet. There will be live entertainment, activities for all ages, charity stalls and a pop-up street food area from Blue Collar.
Reading Borough Council said that in addition to these events, so far 57 street parties have been booked after it waived road closure charges for the jubilee weekend.
And that’s not all. Over half-term, Reading Museum wll hold three workshops that celebrate both the Platinum Jubilee and the 200th anniversary of Huntley & Palmers. The new portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge will also be on display.
Reading Libraries will be running Jubilee-themed craft sessions, and there will be special rhymetimes with a royal theme across the summer.
Berkshire Record Office will host Happy and Glorious, an exhibition devoted to the Queen’s Berkshire connections. This opens on Thursday, May 26.
And there will be a Jubilee Beacon Trail running across Reading from Saturday, May 14, through to Sunday, June 5. There will be seven characters to find using augmented reality (AR). Details for this can be found at jubileebeacontrail.com
Reading Borough Council’s assistant director of culture, Donna Pentelow, was thrilled with the ways in which people can mark the Queen’s milestone.
“Not only do we have an exciting Beacon Lighting Ceremony and beacon trail to look forward to, but we’ve also got Reading’s flagship festival, Water Fest, on the Saturday to mark the Jubilee which is always free and jam-packed with events,” she said.
“Finally, to honour the occasion, there will be joyous concerts over the long weekend. If tribute acts are your thing, book your tickets now for the Jubilee Tribute Concert in the Abbey Ruins, or chill out on Sunday with a picnic in the Forbury Gardens, listening to the Trinity Concert Band’s Jubilee Children’s Concert.”
And she was pleased with the plans from residents to come together for their own parties to celebrate the Queen’s historic reign.
“we have made it easy for local residents and communities to organise a street party and celebrate Her Majesty’s incredible record of public service by waiving the usual road closure fees,” she said.
“I wish all the communities hosting a record-breaking 57 street parties across Reading that weekend a fabulous time.”
Later this month, Reading Today will be publishing a guide to all the Platinum Jubilee events taking place in the Reading and Wokingham areas. And on June 8, we will publish a special souvenir edition featuring the best pictures and reports from across the four days of celebrations. Demand will be high – place a regular order with your newsagent today.
If you are organising a jubilee event, let us know. Email news@rdg.today
