THE details of a town's programme of events to celebrate the Queen's jubilee have been revealed.
Kirkby Lonsdale and Lune Valley Community Interest Company (Kirkby Lonsdale CIC) has released the programme for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Kirkby Lonsdale for the bank holiday weekend, between Thursday, June 2 and Sunday, June 5.
The town will put on a five-day event called Dancing Through The Decades, where the community will unite through music and dance in celebration of the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The community has worked together closely to put on the event and everyone is getting involved.
There will be a special Jubilee Charter Market (am-4pm) and Beacon Ceremony (7pm until late) on Thursday, June 2; a community street party in Market Square on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4; and dance performances and workshops on Saturday, June 4.
There will be two stages of live music: the “Street Party Stage” in Market Square and the “Buskers Stage” in Jubilee field, with shops and the weekly market serving food and drink.
Kirkby Lonsdale CIC is working with creative practitioner Jayne Davies to put on a programme of free dance performances and workshops with LUDUS Dance, having received £5000 from Cumbria Community Foundation and Arts Council England’s ‘Let’s Create’ fund.
A new dance commission will be performed by Curious Dance Company at the Market Square street party on Saturday, June 4 and dancers will process down Main Street to St Mary’s Church where they will lead free dance demos.
Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council has contributed £1,000 to the event and organised the Beacon Ceremony on Thursday, June 2 at Kirkby Lonsdale Playpark, where there will be live entertainment and food and drink from Devil’s Bridge Snacks and The Little Barn Bar, from 7pm until late.
The Christopher Robin’s Trust has also put £1,000 towards a new poetry commission, which will be performed for the first time at the beacon ceremony, composed and performed by poet Matt Sowerby.
There will be multiple performances over the weekend at the Market Square street party (Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4) and at the closing ceremony at St Mary’s Church (10.30am on Sunday, June 5).
Phoebe Rodway, marketing and communications assistant at Kirkby Lonsdale CIC and coordinator of the platinum jubilee programme, said: “This is a once in a life-time celebration and it has been very exciting to watch it come to life – we started planning Dancing Through The Decades back in January!
“The best part of the project has been working with all the groups and individuals in Kirkby Lonsdale and seeing the community placed at the heart of the event.”
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