Banbury’s biggest-ever party is being organised to celebrate the coronation of King Charles lll.
The record-breaking, FREE-TO-ENTER, day out will have more to eat and drink, more music, and more things to do than any Banbury event ever before.
There’s going to be something special for everyone – and everyone is invited.
So, put Sunday the 7th of May in your diaries, write it on the wall, stick post-it notes around the house – just make sure you don’t forget. It’s something no-one will want to miss. The event will run from midday to 9.30pm in Spiceball Park and will be action-packed all the way.
Let’s take a look at what is planned – starting with food and drink. The choice will be a massive pig roast, fish and chips, gourmet burgers, Greek, Mexican, toasties, chicken burgers, Bratwurst sausages, noodles, woodfired pizza, Hooky ales, wines, cocktails, prosecco and frizzante, MK desserts, ice cream, sweets, candy floss, churros, doughnuts, traybakes, cakes and brownies.
Tables and benches will be set up so that partygoers can ‘big lunch’ together – or visitors can bring their own picnics plus rugs and camping chairs and soak up the atmosphere of the celebrations.
Afternoon tea can be booked in advance using Banbury Town Council’s website www.banbury.gov.uk and following the links.
There’s going to be all-day music with seven bands performing live on the festival stage. There will be music for all tastes starting at midday including: The Skeme; 1pm, Hot Sauce Rhythm and Brass; 2pm, Seven Hours Behind; 3:30pm, Town Sparks; 5pm, The Dodgers; 6:30pm, Under the Covers; 8pm, The Skalectrics.
Spiceball Park will be packed with things to do. Young and old will find something to try – and the exciting and challenging activities will include crazy golf, laser quest, climbing wall, caving, circus workshops, fairground attractions, stilt walkers, go karts, pole joust, surf simulator, face painting and balloon modelling.
It’s not just an afternoon event. The action will continue into the evening with the food and drink stalls staying open, plus late-night music together with all the activities. It will be non-stop fun, start to finish.
At 9pm the town beacon will be lit and a live fire-show performance will thrill onlookers. A fabulous fireworks display will mark the end of the event.
The event is sponsored by Swish Fibre Ltd and supported by TWE Haulage, and Banbury Van and Car Hire Ltd.
Banbury’s big event is on SUNDAY THE 7th OF MAY.
King Charles lll’s actual coronation will have taken place the day before on Saturday the 6th of May at Westminster Abbey – the setting for British coronations for the past 900 years.
The delay following Queen Elizabeth ll’s death is because tradition dictates that the country will remain in mourning for an appropriate period of time following the passing of the former monarch.
Elizabeth II became Queen on the 6th of February 1952, but her coronation didn’t take place until the 2nd of June 1953.
Charles III’s coronation will be different in some ways to that of his mother. Buckingham Palace has said that coronations have retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and while this coronation will include the same core elements it will also recognise ‘the spirit of our times’ and reflect the monarch’s role today and for the future.
It will reflect Charles’ new vision for a smaller and more modern monarchy. The ceremony will be shorter than the three hours of the Queen’s coronation and will be less expensive. The King hopes it will be considered ‘good value’ and it will include more representatives from different faiths and community groups to reflect the nation’s ethnic diversity.
Other aspects of the ceremony will sit more closely with Queen Elizabeth ll’s coronation.
King Charles III will take the coronation oath, be anointed with consecrated oil, receive the orb and sceptres, and the Archbishop of Canterbury will place the magnificent St Edward’s Crown on his head.
The King and Queen Consort Camilla will arrive at the abbey from Buckingham Palace as part of the King’s procession, and will leave the abbey with an even larger ceremonial procession, the coronation procession. This will feature other members of the royal family, and afterwards, they will appear together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Camilla will be the first consort to be crowned since the Queen Mother in 1937, and will have Queen Mary’s diamond-encrusted crown placed on her head.
More than 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, but King Charles III’s will be significantly smaller, with around 2,000 dignitaries present.
