Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations

In just four weeks we will be celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and there will be a number of events taking place across Bedford Borough.

We have waived the fee for road closures to enable residents to hold street parties but you still need to apply.

Street parties are a fantastic way for communities to gather together, and celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee over this long bank holiday weekend. I'm delighted we have been able to waive the application fee for holding a Jubilee street party, enabling people to close their street for the day and come together, celebrating right on their doorsteps with neighbours, friends and families.

Applications for road closures should be emailed to road.closures@bedford.gov.uk by 22nd May.

As well as street parties, there will be a Beacon lighting at Castle Mound.

All of the Borough's libraries will be putting on a number of children's crafts activities from Jubilee colouring to cupcake making to magnet and coaster decorating. There will also be a series of talks at Bedford Central Library about Royal visits to Bedford amongst other subjects. There will also be craft activities at The Higgins Bedford.

There will be a Town Centre Trail in Bedford, which will run from 19th May to 9th June, an Artisan Market and a number of Thanksgiving services.

You can find out more about these events at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/Jubilee.

There will be plenty of other celebratory events in many of our villages over the Bank Holiday weekend as well as special programmes on the television and the radio.

On 28th June The Corn Exchange will be hosting a special regal and patriotic afternoon, to celebrate the Jubilee with a production of Happy and Glorious. Where Neil Sands and his wonderful West End cast will return to celebrate the 70 glorious years of Her Majesty's record breaking reign. This uplifting afternoon will bring back golden memories with songs made famous by many of her favourite singers and stars from her Royal Command performances. From show tunes to the golden days of rock and roll and into the swinging sixties, sing along to a cockney knees up, a rousing section from Last Night of the Proms, and of course the signature flag waving finale in a tribute to the veterans of her armed forces, with those legendary Songs that won the war. You can find out more at www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/happy-glorious/.

In addition the Government is sending a free commemorative book to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee to children in state-funded primary schools across the United Kingdom from mid-May.