Helmsley residents, businesses and organisations have joined forces to enable the whole town to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
There will be something for everyone of all ages at a festival of fun and entertainment at the sports field on Monday, June 4. Helmsley Arts Centre will be hosting a glittering array of free workshops and performances at the sports field and in the Market Place, from 2pm to 6pm. There will be children’s stories in the Tell Tale Tent, opportunities to learn to drum, get your face painted and listen to street musicians, The Skiband. There will also be sporting events for children.
The town’s celebrations continue on Tuesday, June 5, in the Market Place and Wednesday, June 6, at the town hall and in All Saints’ Church.
The Market Place will be closed for parking for the Tuesday event for the first time in living memory.
The whole historic square will be available for activities ranging from children’s pavement art to a Masterchef-style ‘cook-off’ between local chefs – as well as for residents and visitors simply to meet and enjoy themselves.
Roads will remain open and alternative parking arrangements will be clearly signed.
Meanwhile, The Black Swan Hotel is hosting a celebratory afternoon tea on Tuesday, June 5, at 2pm, which takes place on the ‘Queen’s Table’ set for 60 guests in front of the hotel.
There’s also an exhibiton of a selection of Jubilee and Coronation prints on show in Helmsley Town Hall.
On Wednesday, there will be a tea party and old-time singalong in the town hall for over-75s.
Throughout the extended Jubilee weekend, All Saints’ Church will host a spectacular floral tribute to Her Majesty.
Organists will be playing for hourly periods to coincide with the flower festival between June 1 and June 5, 10am-6pm, with the exception of Sunday, June 3.
On Sunday, June 3, the preacher at the 9.30am service will be the Rt Rev David Wilbourne, vicar of All Saints’ before leaving to become assistant bishop of Llandaff.
• A detailed timetable for Jubilee events in Helmsley is as follows:
Family Fun Day: Monday, June 4, the Sports Field, Baxtons Lane. From 2pm there will be a children’s fancy dress competition, drumming workshops with Billy from Stomp; children’s Olympics; magical stories and songs for under 5s; mini-cricket junior tournament; all-day barbecue and bar, plus evening curry buffet; Jubilee Concert live screening, from 6.45pm, and bonfire from 10pm.
The Big Jubilee Party: Tuesday, June 5, in the Market Place. From 11am there will be pavement art; a treasure hunt; scarecrow trail and competition; decorated bikes, prams and mobility scooters competition; Bilsdale Silver Band and Skiband street musicians; ‘Masterchef ’ cook-off; Black Swan tea party; fancy dress – Best Queen Coronation; stalls and craft demonstrations, plus a family disco at the Town Hall, from 7pm to 9pm.
A Tribute in Flowers: Thursday, May 31, to Tuesday, June 5, at All Saints Church.
Jubilee Party and Old Time Sinalong, for those aged 75 and over, Wednesday, June 6, at 3.30pm at the Town Hall.
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