GREAT SUMMER IN BEDFORD BOROUGH – CELEBRATING THE DIAMOND JUBILEE

21 May 2012

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 theBattleof the bands with a chance to hear the winners play live before they hit the main stage at thisyearsRiverFestival 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 Dave Hodgson
Mayor Dave Hodgson

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 theUK. Thousands of people are expected to line the route and cheer on the torchbearers as the Flame travels throughBedford fromGoldington 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.

 

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