Coronation Celebrations

It’s time to get busy with the bunting as the nation prepares to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. You might choose to put your feet up and watch the historic occasion at home on the small screen, but if you want the company of others, there are many events happening across Northamptonshire. Here are a few of them...

Wednesday, May 3

The D-Day Darlings bring their Coronation Celebration Show to The Core at Corby, which they say is a song and dance extravaganza for all generations to enjoy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there will be an explosive patriotic finale at the end of the performance too.

Tickets to see the Britain’s Got Talent finalists and nation’s sweethearts can be booked by tapping to thecorecorby.com

Friday, May 5

Get the historic weekend off to a perfect start with a Coronation Thanksgiving Service at St Andrew’s Church in Harlestone with bells, trumpets, organ and percussion, and of course a very warm welcome to all.

The hour-long event will begin at 7pm.

In Bugbrooke, a weekend of celebrations starts with a marquee event on the playing fields, with DJ Phillip Stone followed by the band Genius. Bar and food stalls will open from 7pm.

Saturday, May 6

Northampton Town Council will host a Coronation Celebration Community Festival on Guildhall Road, in the heart of the town (10am-4pm).

Community groups and performers will take attention, and there will be activities for children and collaborative workshops. Roaming entertainers and morris dancers will add to the festivities and Coronation coverage will be shown on big screens.

If hunger pangs strike, worry not – street food stands will take care of any rumbles. The collaborative event plans to champion the community, while also ‘paying tribute to the King’s commitment to support sustainability, biodiversity and the natural world.’

More details at northamptontowncouncil. gov.uk/coronation-celebrations

There is a big programme of events set for Bugbrooke to mark the special day. The bars will open at 10am at the Rugby Club and Football Club & Marquee, for those who want that mid-morning frothy moustache!

Tea, coffee and cake will be served at the community centre, and an art club exhibition will take attention.

You’ll have a choice of spots from where to view the Coronation, with a full day of things to follow; the events arena will open from 2pm with a pre-school Kings and Queens parade, Gymnastricks, Tug of War, and lots of traditional community fun, including Beat the Buzzer, Welly Wanging and Hook-a-Duck.

A tea dance and sing-along might be your thing, but little mites will also be catered for with a children’s disco and later still, live music will roll from The Raccoons and Chaos.

Disabled parking only in the Community Centre car park, with limited parking at the Football Club.

Full event details on FB

Search Bugbrooke’s King Charles III Coronation Celebration

The Paulerspury community is choosing to celebrate King Charles III’s big day with afternoon tea, with sandwiches and cake in the village hall (2pm-5pm).

A licensed bar will also be open so you can toast the new King, and popping over for sandwiches won’t mean you miss the main event at Westminster Abbey – the Coronation will be shown on the big screen.

Tickets are £10 (adults), £6 (under 12’s) with all proceeds going towards the upkeep of the village hall.

Head over to ticketsource.co.uk to book or call 07789 995172

At Northampton Picturedrome, Boombastic’s Best of British Coronation Party is promising a ‘right Royal knees-up’ driven by the best in British hits from the 80s, 90s and 00s.

‘It’s the unofficial Coronation afterparty!’ organisers said, ‘We’re going all out with party hats, flags, streamers, confetti cannons and may even bring some cake!’

Your five hours of fun begin at 8pm. Tickets are £8 in advance at boomevents.co.uk/tickets

Sunday, May 7

St James Church in Thrapston will hold a service of thanksgiving for King Charles at 10.30am, which will be followed by coronation crafts for children. A bring and share lunch will then follow from around midday.

Delapre Abbey will be hosting a Coronation Big Lunch and After Party in its historic grounds on Sunday, May 7.

An invite is extended for residents from across West Northamptonshire to come together to mark the Coronation with a backdrop of live music and performance, activities and stalls (selling souvenirs), and an all traditional English picnic.

The National Coronation Concert will also be broadcast on a big screen.

The day will run from midday all the way through to 10.30pm, because let’s face it, it’s not often that we see a new monarch crowned! A big event deserves a big bash, and that’s precisely what organisers have in store for you. Tickets are free. Visit delapreabbey.org/events for details of how to get yours.

If you want to picnic without the hassle, you could purchase a picnic box from The Orangery at the Abbey for £30, which serves two. Visit delapreabbey.org/events

No public car parking will be available at the abbey, with the exception of blue badge holders.

A Coronation Celebration Big Lunch is being hosted on Braunston Playing Fields with family activities including a bouncy castle, live music and a face painter. Pack up a picnic, unfurl the blanket and chill. Hopefully the sun will shine on the event, which will run from midday until 3pm, but brollies at the ready as necessary. A little bit of the wet stuff won’t stop the fun! Please make a little contribution to the event on entry.

There are a host of events on in the area to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen

Back in Bugbrooke, a Ceilidh/barn dance led by The Occasional Few will be a highlight, let your own vocals loose at the Songs of Praise session, and a big screen showing of the Coronation Concert will feature. The bars will be open from 1.30pm.

Tap over to Bugbrooke’s King Charles III Coronation Celebration on FB for more information.

Monday, May 8

A nice little Coronation related event will be taking place in the gardens of Canons Ashby (11am-2pm) for little creatives – with help from their grown-ups!

Take your little VIPs to the historic spot near Daventry and let them Decorate a Crown with flowers, leaves and other natural treasures.

The tranquil Tudor manor house and its terraced gardens is a spot of true beauty and the perfect place to enjoy a little family time, and this event will be housed in the paddock.

Usual admission prices apply, with a £2 charge for the activity. More details at nationaltrust.org.uk

St Katherine’s Gardens will be a focal point in Northampton for the Big Help Out

Today the gardens, which once housed the church of St Katherine, provide a walkway between the Bus Station and Horsemarket, and the plan is to turn the area into an attractive place for residents, town workers and visitors alike.

This improvement session is influenced by King Charles’ passion for sustainability, biodiversity and the natural world.

Volunteers will give the space a good tidy up, plant perennials, and prune flower beds. If all goes according to plan, it’ll be blooming great!

Find out more about the Coronation plans for St Katherine’s Gardens by digging deep at northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/ coronation-celebrations

What’s happening, when: The Coronation Weekend at a glance

The Coronation

On Saturday, May 6 The Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort will take place at historic Westminster Abbey in London, where the Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the Coronation service. Later, The King and Queen Consort will be joined on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to bring the ceremonial events of the day to a close. Get your flags at the ready!

The Coronation Concert

A special Coronation Concert is being hosted at Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7, which will be broadcast on television.

The Coronation Big Lunch

The same day, people around the country will partake in the Coronation Big Lunch, a chance for communities and neighbours to share food and company. Visit edenprojectcommunities.com/ the-big-lunch for more details on how you can take part.

The Big Help Out

Can you spare an hour of your time? As part of the Coronation festivities, members of the public are being invited to do something amazing; ‘Join in. Lend a hand. Make a change.’

Perhaps visit a neighbour who could benefit from your company, or get stuck in with one of the many charities who could use your support. It might be a little bit of your time, but it can make a world of difference to others. More details at thebighelpout.org.uk