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Celebrate the platinum jubilee in Blackpool!

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, and the UK has been granted an extra bank holiday for a long weekend of celebrations, events and street parties across the UK, and Blackpool has a spectacular programme of events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

 

The long weekend begins on the first of two bank holidays - Thursday 2 June, and Friday 3 June - and events being held across Blackpool include a grand parade of heritage trams across the seafront, an outdoor picnic on the comedy carpet with free entertainment, a light and laser show, beacon lighting, and fireworks launched from the top of Blackpool Tower.

 

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee

 

Following the unfortunate death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, Elizabeth became Queen of England as the next in line to the throne, at the age of 25, and she was coronated on 2 June 1953.

 

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee started on 6 February 2022, marking 70 years since she acceded to the throne, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Our 96-year-old monarch also had her Silver Jubilee in 1977, her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and her Diamond Jubilee in 2002.

 

Thursday 2 June is also the Queen’s official birthday parade, Trooping The Colour, which will end with a fly-by by the RAF, watched by members of the Royal family from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, and beacon lighting across the UK. There will be a special service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 3 June.

 

Street parties and celebrations are being held all across the UK and the Commonwealth across the long weekend, and a live televised concert from Buckingham Palace on Saturday 4 June, which will feature Diana Ross, Queen and Adam Lambert, Duran Duran, Sir Rod Stewart, and singer Sam Ryder, fresh from the Eurovision in which he came second.

 

Other acts include Craig David, Ella Eyre, Elbow, Jax Jones, Celeste, Andrea Bocelli, Sigala and Nile Rogers. The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, iPlayer, and Radio 2.

 

But there’s much more going on outside of London, with celebrations, events and activities all across the country, and Blackpool also has a range of events to mark the occasion.

 

What’s on in Blackpool for the Platinum Jubilee

 

Let’s have a look at some of the entertainment you can expect to see in Blackpool for the Platinum Jubilee.

 

Jubilee Tram Parade

 

On Thursday 2 June, the Jubilee celebrations kick off with the largest parade of heritage trams that the seaside resort has ever seen.

 

The historic trams were officially retired in 2012 when newer European-style trams came into service, but many of them were retained, restored and maintained by an army of volunteers and brought back into regular use, becoming one of the finest heritage tram fleets in the world!

 

From 2.30 pm, around a dozen of these wonderful heritage trams will set off from Blackpool Pleasure Beach and make their way up to Bispham, pausing at the Tower Festival Headland so members of the public can see the vintage trams for themselves.

 

Relax at The Big Comedy Picnic

 

From 3 pm until 7 pm, why not indulge in some al fresco eating and entertainment on the Comedy Carpet opposite Blackpool Tower.

 

The live entertainment, hosted by Blackpool-native and BBC Lancashire radio presenter Hayley Kay, will be headlined by Sonia, and also features X-Factor contestants Sami Brookes and Ella Grace, and Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Richard and Adam, as well as excerpts from performances from Pleasure Beach, the Blackpool Tower Circus and Viva Showbar.

 

You can bring a picnic, or food from any of the many outlets nearby, hire a deckchair and enjoy the show!

 

Beacon lighting and fireworks

 

In the evening, from 9 pm, there will be even more entertainment on the Comedy Carpet, followed by Beacon Lighting.

 

Beacon lighting has long been associated with special occasions, such as Royal jubilees, going back to 1897 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Blackpool will be taking part in the Community Beacons, which will see thousands of beacons lit across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, to mark this unprecedented milestone.

 

This will be followed by a fantastic fireworks show from the top of Blackpool Tower, which will also be lit red, white, and blue for the whole weekend.

 

Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea

 

Why not celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign by having Afternoon Tea at the Winter Gardens? In the Old Victoria bar inside the historic venue, there will be a selection of Afternoon Tea offerings and live entertainment fit for a Queen!

 

You can choose between a Classic Afternoon Tea, which includes a selection of sandwiches and cakes, pastries and scones, or a Savoury Afternoon Tea comprising pastries, sliders, chips and a selection of desserts. It is bound to be a popular event, so book ahead to secure a spot!

 

Platinum Jubilee at Coral Island

 

Why not come and join us at Coral Island, where Captain Jack and his crew have prepared some family-friendly activities and competitions to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

 

On Thursday 2 June, visit the Buccaneer bar in Coral Island, where kids can colour in the Queen’s crown to enter a competition to win a VIP visit for four people to Coral Island, and a runner’s-up prize of a Coral Bear. All entrants will receive a stick of Coral Rock too!

 

There will be a special Coronation Chicken dish-of-the-day at Peggy’s snack bar, a delicious creamy mild chicken curry served with rice, for the bargain price of £7.95, while the Big Fish and Traditional Chippy will be offering a complimentary mini traditional British dessert with every portion of fish and chips.

 

Throughout the entire weekend, prize shop customers at the Coral Island Arcade will receive a free stick of rock, and there will be competitions, raffles, and prize draws, and all our staff will be dressed up for the occasion!

 

Don’t forget that kids eat free at Coral Island’s participating restaurants - just look for the yellow kids eat for free stickers, and get a free kids meal with every adult meal purchased.

 

Whether you’re planning a day trip to Blackpool or having a bank holiday mini-break, there’s always plenty to do in the famous seaside town, and events throughout the year, as well as its award-winning beaches, Pleasure Beach, shows and musicals and so much more.

 

So, why not visit Blackpool this extra-special bank holiday weekend, and join in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations!