Counting Down To The Diamond Jubilee

It seems we’re not the only ones celebrating a major anniversary this year. As well as it being the year of our 40^th Anniversary, 2012 will see the Queen celebrating her Diamond Jubilee.

Starting on the 2^nd of June, the Diamond Jubilee weekend is sure to be one to remember and with bank holidays on the 4^th and 5^th it gives us all a real chance to celebrate the occasion with family and friends.

Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee with BAYV!

What do you have in mind for the Jubilee weekend? If you’re yet to decide, there are lots of fun-filled family events going on around the country, so take a look at the selection we’ve picked out below:

• Scotland – the Royal Artillery will be sounding out the Royal gun salute at Edinburgh castle
• The Midlands – Witley Court and Gardens is playing host to a picnic party on Sunday the 3^rd and Monday the 4^th of June
• North West – Chester’s Roman Fort and Museum is offering a day of time travel to Roman times, with crafts and activities to occupy the most energetic of families
• North East – kids can dress up as a prince or princess whilst entering the ‘paint a plate’ competition at the Wedgwood tea party from the 2^nd to the 8^th of June in Stoke-on-Trent
• Yorkshire – at Clifford’s Tower in York there is a Royal Trail and games of hide and seek with a Jubilee twist
• Wales – in Cardiff the 1^st Queen’s Dragoon guards will stage a homecoming parade through the city centre

For those of you looking to celebrate at home, why not throw a Big Jubilee Lunch to catch up with your neighbours, family and friends? The Big Lunch encourages communities to get together for lunch once a year and is the official street party for the Jubilee. If you’re interested in holding a Big Jubilee Lunch, then all the information you need can be found here.

Here are our top tips for making sure your street party runs as smoothly as possible:

1. Choose a venue – it could be your street, garden or community hall.
2. Keep the food simple – ask everyone to bring a dish they can share. Barbecues and sandwiches are the order of the day!
3. Invite your guests – get all your friends and neighbours to spread the word.
4. Arrange some decorations – bunting and Union Jacks galore. Why not try making them yourself from paper or old fabric?
5. Enjoy yourself – the most important tip of all!

Whatever you’ve got planned, whether big or small, we’d love to hear about it, so please leave a comment and let us know.