Your guide to Platinum Jubilee events in Driffield
The bunting is out and shops are beginning to prepare their colourful window displays as Driffield gears up to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style.
To mark the momentous occasion, a series of events have been planned which are designed to involve the whole community – from young to old – as the town marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign.
Platinum Jubilee Corgi Trail
To reflect the monarch’s well-known love of animals and in particular her corgi dogs, Driffield Town Council has devised the Platinum Jubilee Corgi Trail, which will start on Thursday 2nd June and run throughout the summer until 4th September.
This fun activity will see a number of life-sized model corgis, designed by local artist Siobhan Palmer and produced by Andy Wilson of the Tidy Team, hidden throughout the town centre.
Eighteen schools and youth organisations from the Driffield area have decorated the corgis in the colours of the Commonwealth countries.
The trail will run throughout the town centre and people will be invited to find the corgis and identify which Commonwealth country it represents.
Entry forms will be available from The Little Book Emporium, Wonders of the Wolds and Kinship and the first 100 successfully completed entries will win a Platinum Jubilee Corgi Medal.
Platinum Jubilee Flower Festival
From Thursday 2nd June until Sunday 5th June, Driffield in Bloom will host the Platinum Jubilee Flower Festival.
Held in partnership with Driffield Town Council and All Saints’ Parish Church, the flower festival will be held at the church and is to be open to the public from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th June and from 12-4pm on Sunday 5th June. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Window Dressing Competition
Driffield in Bloom is also holding a window dressing competition running from Friday 27th May until Monday 6th June with the theme of ‘Seventy Glorious Years’.
Shops and businesses in the Capital of the Wolds are invited to enter, with displays reflecting a time or occasion during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign featuring royal memorabilia, the Commonwealth and illustrating her personal interests and passions.
Proclamation
A Proclamation will be made by the Town Crier, Brian Fairfield paying tribute to Her Majesty at the Umbrella Plaza, in Market Place, on Thursday 2nd June at 2pm.
Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service
This will be followed later that day by the Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service and Beacon Lighting.
The Thanksgiving Service will take place at Driffield Methodist Church at 7:30pm on 2nd June led by Rev Rob Case and featuring the Driffield Male Voice Choir.
Following the service, the congregation will walk to All Saints’ Church for refreshments and a preview of the Driffield in Bloom Flower Festival followed by a performance of a specially written piece at 9:35pm by the East Riding Pipe Band.
At 9:40pm ‘The Bugle Call’ will be performed by Luke Gledhill and at 9:45pm, the Lighting of the Beacon at All Saints’ by Mrs Shirley Franklin MBE and Mayor of Driffield, Cllr Mark Blakeston.
Platinum in the Park
On Saturday 4th June, there will be a celebration event in North End Park titled Platinum in the Park.
This will take place from 2pm until 8pm and will feature live music, dance, theatre, and lots more entertainment for the whole family.
Among the acts performing will be Britain’s Got Talent’s The Garnett Family, Buckrose Band, LS Dance and All for One Choir, as well as children’s sports, Peppa Pig, crafts and food.
Entry is free and the day promises to have a relaxed festival feel.
With neighbours getting together for a number of street parties across the town, the weekend promises to be an occasion to remember.
Driffield mayor Cllr Mark Blakeston said: “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are an opportunity for the whole community to get together.
“The Platinum in the Park event will be a real focal point with activities for all the family all afternoon at North End Park.
“I am sure the people of Driffield will take the opportunity to mark the milestone celebration and acknowledge Queen Elizabeth II’s reign for a magnificent 70 years.”
