There is a distinctly 1950’s feel to Birmingham’s four day celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee from 2 – 5 June.
There are vintage parades and nostalgic live music in Birmingham city centre, 50’s themed entertainments at the annual Spring Festival in Cannon Hill Park and a recreation of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Disney’s 1951 classic movie adaptation of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ at the Young Reader’s Book Bash.
There will be majestic music performed by CBSO at the Symphony Hall with a magnificent concert of classical music with a Royal theme by Elgar, Britten and William Walton, as well as Alexandre Desplat’s BAFTA award winning music from The Kings Speech.
People throughout the city will also be able to mark this special anniversary by holding ‘Jubilee Big Lunches’ in their communities on Sunday 3rd June. There will also be a ‘Jubilee Big Lunch’ in the grounds of St Philip’s Cathedral. Big Lunches will also be taking place in care homes throughout the city and at Aston Park and St Martin’s Church.
The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations include Lord Mayor’s Show, Birmingham Pride and the Young Readers Book Bash.
The Lord Mayor’s Show will give people an opportunity to welcome the new Lord Mayor and bid farewell to the outgoing one. There will plenty of live entertainment as well as money raising activities for the Lord Mayor’s charities.
The annual Birmingham Pride weekend will begin with a flamboyant procession from Victoria Square to the Gay Village in Hurst Street on Saturday 3 June.
There will be celebrations at the annual Book Bash at Aston Hall on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June as character’s from the 1951 Disney classic version of Alice in Wonderland recreate the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in a picnic marquee.
The Jubilee Thanksgiving Service from St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 5 June will be screened live in Victoria Square. The star studded Jubilee concert from Buckingham Palace will also be shown on the big screen in Victoria Square and in the Birmingham Pride Cabaret Tent in Hurst Street. The live show will feature performances by JLS, Paul McCartney Elton John, Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran.
Councillor Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture says: “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations will unite people of all ages and interests throughout the city. From street parties to the Spring Fair, Birmingham Pride to the Book Bash, Birmingham will have a diverse range of exciting events that will allow local people and communities to come together for this fabulous bank holiday weekend.”
For more information and for details on how to organise a ‘Jubilee Street Party, please visit http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/bigjubileecelebrations
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Media contact: Jason Lewis 0121 303 4266 jason.lewis@birmingham.gov.uk
Programme of events:
NB All details are correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change.
Friday 1 June, 7.30pm
Symphony Hall
Diamond Jubilations
Stephen Bell – conductor
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Programme to include:
Walton: Crown Imperial 7’
Desplat: The Queen 5’
Walton: Henry V – Suite 7’
Coates: Suite, The Three Elizabeths 18’
Elgar: Coronation March 10’
Bliss: Welcome the Queen 7’
Elgar: Nursery Suite – highlights 6’
Britten: Courtly Dances (Gloriana) 9’
Desplat: The King’s Speech 5’
Arnold: Bridge on the River Kwai 3’
Parry (orch. Elgar): Jerusalem 4’
Walton: March, Orb & Sceptre 8
Get the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend off to a rousing start, as we mark the occasion with an evening of music written for and about the Royal Family, past & present. Featuring some of the music from the 2011 Royal Wedding, favourite Coronation music by Walton and Elgar, and extracts from Desplat’s score for The King’s Speech, it’s the ideal prelude to a weekend of nationwide celebrations.
To book: 0121 780 3333 / www.cbso.co.uk
Saturday 2 June, 12 noon
Victoria Square
Birmingham Pride
Launched from Victoria Square in Birmingham’s city centre at 12 noon on Saturday 2nd June 2012, the Carnival Parade route will be our best and most visible procession through the city ever. This year it will wind its way down Colmore Row, and include other streets like Bull Street, Temple Street, Colmore Row and New Street, before finishing right in the heart of the Gay Village area for festival-goers to continue the celebrations. The theme this year is the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign to help young people from the LGBT community and prevent suicides. The message will be evident in the parade, which will see hundreds of people making their way through the streets on foot, alongside a large number of superbly decorated trucks.
- Saturday 2 June
Chamberlain Square
Stage – Live entertainment tbc
Marquee Activities - Central Library
Workshops - Saturday 2 June, 2-6pm
Cannon Hill Park
Spring Festival
Arts, crafts and nature trails, arena activities and 1950’s themed entertainments.
Organised by the Friends of Cannon Hill Park - Sunday 3 June, 12.30pm
Big Lunch
Cathedral grounds - Craft and Food Fair
Upper New Street - Pride Festival
Gay Village, Hurst Street - Children’s rides, all day
Victoria Square - Vintage fair, 11am – 4pm
Council House - Sunday 3 June, 2-6pm
Sarehole Mill
Milling Day
Meet the Miller and see how wheat is ground into flour - Sunday 3 June
Spring Festival
Cannon Hill Park
Arts, crafts and nature trails, arena activities and 1950’s themed entertainments.
Organised by the Friends of Cannon Hill Park - Monday 4 June
Bull Ring to Victoria Square Pageant
A 1950’s themed event with participants dressed in vintage costumes from the era or national dress from countries from the Commonwealth. Representatives from The Royal Navy and Brownies will also be participating in the pageant. Pageant to start at the bottom of New Street by the Bull Ring bull and will move up New Street up to the Council House in Victoria Square. - Monday 4 June
City centre
Lord Mayor’s Show
This annual spectacular takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday and is one of the council’s most prestigious civic events, attracting over 20,000 people into the City Centre. A highlight of Birmingham’s civic calendar, it is the annual welcome of the new Lord Mayor to the city and a fond farewell to the outgoing one. As well as raising money for the Lord Mayor’s charities, the event is a great day out for the whole family.
The show offers entertainment for all ages including live musical performances on the main stage with local singers, dance performances and children’s entertainment. - Monday 4 June 2012
Chamberlain Square
Stage Entertainment - Rat Pack – (Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin/Sammy Davis Jr)
1950’s dance show
Paul Legan and the Legends (Skiffle Band)
Mike Sheridan (Rock and Roll – Elvis/Gene Vincent/Bill Haley) - Monday 4 June 2012
Victoria Square
Big Screen
1950’s music and concert from Buckingham Palace - Monday 4 June 2012, 2.30pm
Birmingham Council House
Afternoon Tea with Lord Mayor - Monday 4 June
Vintage Fashion Show
Fashion Design students from Birmingham City University demonstrating 1950’s style fashion and jewellery - Monday 4 June 2012
Town Hall
Military Tea Dance - Monday 4 June 2012
Farmers Market – New Street
Craft Market – Victoria Square
Jewellery Workshop
Children’s rides - Library Activities – Library Theatre
- Bar – Victoria Square.
Bar provided by the Nicholls Group tbc. Traditional ales and beers, and commonwealth themed New World wines will be for sale. - Monday 4 June 2012
Waterhall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Family Street Party - Church Service from St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Victoria Square
Screen in Cathedral
Screen at Pride - Monday 4 / Tuesday 5 June 2012
Aston Hall
Book Bash
There will be an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party in a picnic marquee. The Book Bash will be one of the highlights of the wonderful Young Reader’s Festival taking place at Birmingham Central Library and venues throughout the city.
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