The umbrellas are back…with a Jubilee theme for 2022

A sea of red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee awaits visitors and shoppers to Driffield town centre as the Umbrella Plaza reopens with a host of events planned for the summer.

As part of Driffield Town Council’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and friendly venue for residents and boost visitors to the town, a series of events to suit all ages and all interests has been scheduled, entitled Summer Under the Umbrellas.

Every Friday from June to September, between 3:30pm and 5pm, there will be a free Creation Station workshop offering a whole host of opportunities for young people to learn new skills and try crafts.

On Saturday afternoons, there will be a variety of activities for all ages including old time music hall, interactive plays and trails through the town.

This is in addition to the return of musical entertainment, including buskers, choirs and dance.

Funding for the activities have come from the Do It for East Yorkshire Community Grant – supported by Driffield Town Council and hopes are high that even more people will visit the Plaza to enjoy all it has to offer this year.

“Our extensive consultation on the Commonplace engagement tool clearly highlighted that residents wanted an improvement in the late afternoon and early evening offer in the town,” said Claire Binnington, clerk to Driffield Town Council.  

“Fiona Turner, our external funding officer, has secured a grant to specifically provide activities that encourage people into the town at this time on Fridays and Saturdays and we hope that all local eateries will see this as an excellent opportunity to attract more customers for meals from 5pm. 

“Any special offers businesses wish to put on will be fully promoted by the Town Council as part of their Summer Under the Umbrellas Scheme. 

“We hope that businesses will embrace our efforts to further improve their footfall, the basis on which this project is based.”

Last summer, the Plaza hosted a wide variety of musical talents who came to busk in the town and who added a musical flavour to the town centre.

This year, even more is being offered to Driffield residents and visitors to the town with a full programme of events to be made available soon and promoted on the Driffield Town Council website and via the Driffield & Wolds Weekly, Great Driffield Radio and social media.

“Following extensive consultation with Umbrella Plaza users and people who took part in additional surveys, we have drawn up a series of events and activities that will suit all ages and interests,” said Jill Baldwin, Driffield town centre officer.

“We are also using the Plaza to promote the amazing variety of eateries we have in the town and hope that it is as popular as it was last year.”

Recently, local businesses have sponsored events held at Cass Hall which have already been proved to be highly successful and create extra sales and enquiries for town centre businesses.

It is hoped that these Plaza events will enable more businesses to cater for the teatime offer and encourage more people to stay in Driffield.

Any business wanting to be promoted on the Plaza or to be a sponsor for the events and any buskers wanting to play on the Plaza or groups wanting to perform are being invited to contact Jill at tco.driffieldtowncouncil.gov.uk to check availability.