Jubilee celebrations just around the corner

Visitors to Arrow Valley Countryside Park can commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next week and witness the historic lighting of the beacon.

On Thursday June 2, visitors to the park will be able to witness the historic moment when the Redditch beacon is lit at the same time as 1500 other Jubilee beacons up and down the country.

Alongside the beacon lighting, which will take place at 9.45pm, a fun, family-friendly event will run from 5pm until 10pm.

Redditch Borough Council are working with partners and community organisations to put on a celebratory event with food, street entertainment, and music from ABBA & Bee Gees Tribute Bands and local singers, finished with the ceremonial lighting of the beacons in the park, and a special performance at 9.45pm from Redditch Gospel Choir, who will be singing “A Life Lived With Grace”, commissioned by Commonwealth Resounds for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. Alongside this, Amy Grey from Arrow Valley Brass Band will also be playing Majesty on the bugle.

Leisure Portfolio Holder, Cllr Joanne Beecham, said: “The Jubilee is a momentous milestone in the history of our country and I’m proud that we are giving our residents the opportunity to mark this special occasion with singing, food, and entertainment which everyone can enjoy. And this is just the opening evening of a full bank holiday of events across the community!”

Thousands of town criers, along with Pearly Kings and Queens, traditional and Northumberland pipers, buglers, and choirs from communities across the four corners of the nation and the Commonwealth will lift up their voices and play and sing specially commissioned music prior to the lighting of over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons, at 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June 2022.

Visitors attending should be aware that car parking at the visitor centre car park will be closed with alternative parking available on Stitch Meadow. Those staying for the beacon lighting may also wish to bring a torch or use their phones as there is the possibility that the route back to the car park may be dark.

For anyone unable to attend the Beacon event, Jubilee celebrations will continue across the bank holiday weekend including at Forge Mill Needle Museum on Sunday 5 June 10am – 4pm. In memory of the Mill’s Royal visit from the Queen in 1983, visitors are invited to enjoy the museum grounds whilst listening to songs from the past seventy years of HRH reign. There will be performances from Indigo Arts, Shadow Sax, Yasmeen Shaaban, Belle Contraires and The Violettes, alongside other entertainment in the grounds. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic, or purchase afternoon tea from Mill View Coffee Bar. For more information, go to https://www.forgemill.org.uk/web/events/  

For more information, or to get involved in the Jubilee Beacon Event, contact the Parks and Events Team