CELEBRATIONS for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend will include all sorts of events around the area.
Lots of street parties are planned and public celebrations will include four days of family fun on Dunstable Downs.
The beauty spot will be the scene for the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon on Monday night, June 4.
And the Chilterns Gateway Centre on the Downs will be decked out with bunting, flags and streamers.
> The Downs programme is as follows:
On Saturday, June 2, celebrations begin with the Arts Festival, from 11am to 6pm.
The festival is being run in conjunction with Artists Network Bedfordshire, the London Gliding Club, the Grove Theatre and Central Beds Council.
Visit the Downs event for art demonstrations, exhibitions and live performance art, and interactive activities.
Other fun includes face-painting, kite-making and a bouncy castle.
On Sunday, June 3, the Queen’s Big Lunch runs from 11am-6pm on the Downs.
Go along to help create Bedfordshire’s biggest lunch.
There will be barbecues, candyfloss and other tasty treats on hand.
Keep the family entertained with Space Hopper races, inflatable football shoot-out and bouncy castle fun, Punch and Judy, competitions, and giant draughts, snakes and ladders and Connect Four.
On Monday, June 4, the History Festival on the Downs, from 11am, will include the lighting of the jubilee beacon at 10.01pm.
The history day will include talks, presentations and a Viking living history camp with an armoury and displays on surgery, coin-striking, calligraphy, textiles and combat.
Weapons demonstrations will be held and there will be a Holmganga (Viking duel) before the beacon lighting.
Food will range from ice-cream to hog roast fare. Young visitors can enjoy the children’s entertainment and funfair, enter the ‘dress like a Viking competition’ for the day and celebrate the history of England.
On Tuesday, June 5, the Downs will host a family fun day from 11am with giant outdoor games, children’s entertainment and walks. Hands-on activities include workshops, kite-making and competitions.
> Houghton Regis Town Council is organising a Picnic On The Green, in Houghton, on Saturday, June 2.
Bring your own picnic and enjoy family fun on The Green, from 3pm to 7pm.
That includes 1952 fancy dress, a teddy bears’ picnic, maypole dancing, welly wanging, face-painting, music and Punch and Judy.
The Houghton council team is also subsidising a coach trip to London on June 3 to see the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river.
Anyone interested in joining in should call Jan Cooper on 01582 708540 or email theway@houghtonregis.org.uk
> Dunstable Town Council has awarded grants to help cover the costs of 20 community celebrations such as street parties in its area. Pictures will be posted on the council’s Facebook and Flickr accounts.
> The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Hockfest is on Saturday, June 2. Entry is free.
It’s all happening from 12.30pm-5.30pm at Hockliffe Lower School.
Hockliffe Parish Council has organised entertainment from local blues band Blues Before Midnight, dance displays, stalls, games, talent competitions and a raffle.