9 May, 2012
Eastbourne’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will be taking place over three days from the 2 – 4 June, and is set to be one of the biggest free festivals in the region. The three day celebration is now incorporating even more fun with the addition of a packed programme of activities at the Redoubt Fortress and Towner.
The celebration, which marks the Queen’s 60th year, will take place on the seafront Western Lawns and sees the return of the popular Fiesta weekend, along with brand new events including a seafront carnival, big screen, flotilla of yachts and more.
Organised by Eastbourne Borough Council and Eastbourne Cultural Communities Network, the festival includes a range of fun competitions, with food, live music and dance events, a beacon lighting and fireworks, plus all the live action from Buckingham Palace on a big TV screen
2006 Masterchef winner Peter Bayless will be headlining the kitchen for the festivities, with local restaurants joining the live cookery demonstrations in the Seafront Food Theatre throughout the long weekend.
Eastbourne’s Diamond Jubilee fun looks set to be one of the largest in the county with our event continuing for three days, rather than just two.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year is a fantastic opportunity for the whole community to get together to celebrate with visitors and really feel proud of our town and what it has to offer. Most of all we want it to be fun and whether you are celebrating with your own street party at home, at the Redoubt, or on the seafront as part of the nationwide celebrations, this is a magnificent weekend to remember for many years to come.”
You can also celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with a step back to the 1940s at the Redoubt Fortress’ Blackout & Bunting event. On the Saturday experience history hands on, take part in workshops and living history displays. Discover how the Second World War affected Eastbourne and experience the atmosphere of the wartime British homefront.
Or be resourceful at the Make do & Mend workshop and then get your hair fixed at the 1940s salon in preparation for the evening Blackout Dance (7-11pm) with the Swinging Detective playing Hot Jazz, Big Band Swing and Jump Blues.
There’s a chance to meet Princess Elizabeth on the Sunday at an authentic 1940s street party, complete with flags, bunting and sing-alongs. You can also design and make a cardboard Jubilee celebration cake for the chance to win a family weekend ticket for five people to attend Blackout & Bunting.
Towner will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with a fantastic piece of artwork that will be on display from 26 May until 10 June. BBC South East Today has commissioned a new portrait of The Queen, which will be entirely made up of photographs of the people of the South East. Around 10,000 images are needed for The People’s Monarch and the gigantic photomosaic can be portraits, family photos, black or white, so long as they show local faces!
Residents and local school children are being encouraged to join in the fun by entering a range of competitions including the Blooming Marvellous Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Show, a Tug-of-War, Fancy Dress, Toss the Hay Bale, children’s crown making and painting, plus sailors can enter to join the Jubilee flotilla with a prize for the best dressed boat.
As well as taking part in the seafront celebrations, residents are also being encouraged to hold their own street parties and can download a We Love Street Parties pack online to help with planning.
For more information on all Diamond Jubilee events go to the VisitEastbourne website or telephone 0871 663 0031.
