Ipswich ready with many events to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee

Ipswich will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in style.

Over the 4-day bank holiday period at the start of June, as well as later in the month, there will be several large, free celebrations in the town organised by the Council as well as events from others.

On Thursday 2 June, Ipswich will light one of the more than 1,500 beacons across the country that will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. The Ipswich Beacon will be on the lawn at Christchurch Mansion in an event that will start at 7pm (gates open at 6:30pm) and will have entertainment and food with themes from across the Commonwealth.

After the playing of the anthem by buglers and Suffolk Soul Singers performing 'Song for the Commonwealth' there will be a few words of address from the Mayor followed by the lighting of the beacon at 9:45pm. A firework display will close the festivities a few minutes before 10:00pm.

On Saturday 4 June between Noon and 11:00pm, the Platinum Party will be held on the Cornhill, Ipswich in conjunction with a special concert bringing together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars at Buckingham Palace and that will be shown live on a large screen at our event. Seating will be provided as well as Commonwealth-themed food and refreshment.
Sunday 5 June, from 11:00am to 4:00pm will see the Big Jubilee Lunch street party event held on the Cornhill, Ipswich with street party decor and food. A large screen will provide a montage of images from across the Queen’s reign with a focus on Her Majesty’s visits to Ipswich. The screen will also show The Platinum Jubilee Pageant live from London and finish with a showing of highlights from the previous night’s concert.

Ipswich Borough Council is also funding 18 street parties across Ipswich - from Rushmere to Priory Heath - and these will take place from Friday 3 June to Sunday 5 June.

Special Platinum Jubilee Union flags will be flown on both the Town Hall and Grafton House from Monday 30May until Monday 6 June. There will also be specially designed Jubilee Lamppost banners as well as hanging baskets of flowers up throughout the town centre.

As part of the Festival of Suffolk, a Torch Relay across 588 miles of Suffolk will finish in Ipswich. On Wednesday 1 June, the torch will leave Felixstowe to travel via Martlesham, Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew into central Ipswich. It will journey from Christchurch Mansion, through the town centre, past Portman Road Stadium and along the Waterfront and then on to be the centre-piece for the Jubilee Pageant at the Suffolk Show in Trinity Park, Ipswich from 4:00pm.

On Thursday 2 June at Christchurch Mansion, local artists and the family art group, Rock Paper Scissors, will produce with the public the ‘Timeline of a Queen’; a piece of work inspired by a personal memory or local history from the 1950s to today. These pieces of work will be transformed into a large scale exhibition showcasing the history of our community to be on display at The Hold on Saturday 4 June.

On Wednesday 8 June, starting at 6:00pm, there will be a parade of military and youth organisations through Ipswich in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. This will form up on Carr Street and then march to the Cornhill.

Also, and as part of the Festival of Suffolk, there will be two concerts and a community event in Ipswich:

Funky Voices, Suffolk’s' Multi Award Winning Community Choir, will host a live concert at St Peter’s by the Waterfront on Saturday 28 May at 7:00pm (cost £7).

On Friday 10 June, there will be a Festival of Royal Music by Handel, Elgar, Parry and others by the choir of St Mary le Tower in the church from 6.30pm (cost £15).
On Saturday 11 June, from 11:00 am to 5:00pm, there will be a Field Funday in Lindbergh Road, Ipswich. This event will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with Live Acts, Raffle Prize Draw, Children’s Fun & Crafts, Crown Gallery, Hot & Cold Food to buy and much more.

Cllr John Cook, Mayor of Ipswich Borough Council, says:

“It’s always good to see the town coming together for a celebration. We will be spoilt for choice with the wide selection of events provided both by your Council, as well as by others, in June to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We have worked hard to put on events with a local, national as well as a Commonwealth theme and we are putting out the banners and flags. “

Chris Barnard, Head of Place at Ipswich Central, says:

"We are really pleased to be working with Ipswich Borough Council on some of the upcoming events and activities in Ipswich celebrating the Platinum Jubilee; it's set to be a fantastic long weekend in the town centre. We encourage everyone in the town centre community: businesses, residents, schools, and offices, to decorate their buildings to help make Ipswich feel extra special during this important moment in British history."