Poetry, pork pies and punks: Our pick of the weekend’s Jubilee street parties
Twenty-one per cent of adults in the UK — that’s almost 9.5 million people — are planning to take part in a Diamond Jubilee event or Big Lunch street party for the bumper bank holiday bonanza that’s almost upon us. Here’s www.independent.co.uk’s pick of top street parties across the country. Whether you’re a staunch royalist or more of a put-the-royals-in-council-housing-then-poke-them-with-sticks type, there’s a shindig out there perfectly suited to your tastes.
Rivington Street Festival , London 4/6/12 (Monday)
Rivington Street, just steps from Shoreditch High Street tube and home of the (now annual) anti-design festival, is the ultimate place for arty alternative Hoxtonites to get their mis-matched tea sets out.
What’s good?
Two stages with live music and spoken-word
12 participating cafes pubs and art galleries on Rivington Street each showcasing local artists
A market with outfits from local designers
What’s not so good?
Rivington Street is almost always busy on a regular day, but with 538 likes on Facebook plus a ticket queue as long as one of Prince Charles’ speeches, it might get a bit squished.
Millenium square, Bristol 3/6/12
For a more family-oriented day out, Bristol’s Millenium square has gone all patriotic with a big screen showing the highlights from the Queen’s Jubilee parade on Sunday.
What’s good?
For the kids there’s boat-building (in miniature, of course) crown-making, and good old-fashioned face painting.
What’s not so good?
For the adults? There’s merely the joy of watching the little ones have fun while they sink into Pimms-induced oblivion.
Newcastle’s Evolution Festival
Not strictly a street party, but if you’re in Newcastle this will be the place to be over the weekend. Evolution promises a bank holiday weekend (Sunday 3-Monday 4 June) full of rocck, dance and hip-hop from emerging (and quite a few established) artists including Dizzee Rascal, Maximo Park, Noah and the Whale, Band of Skulls and a load of bands you haven’t heard of yet but are tipped for success this summer.
What’s good?
Next year you’ll get to say “I saw that band when…”
What’s not so good?
A weekend for “emerging” artists means gambling on a few duds.
The Book Club’s Jubilee Street Party, London – 3/6/12
On the back of their now-infamous Royal Wedding street party last year, there’s a bit of a buzz around this Shoreditch joint. This year’s celebrations will include all things kitsch and cool, with cakes by cupcake creator Lily Vanilli, bespoke burgers (including the Blue Blood Royale Burger from Shoreditch-based Bukowski grill) and Guilty Pleasure DJs.
What’s Good
The Jubilee Parade will be prjected onto a large screen and they promise to have “miles” of bunting, so you can get into the Jubilee spirit without having to create your own street party or follow the parade around
What’s not so good?
The Book Club’s last event was so very popular that people were queueing from 8.30 in the morning. Expect to wait a long time for a bite of that Jubilee-themed burger.
Hyde Park, London 2/6/12 to 3/6/12
The Rule Britannia themed won’t be spread more thickly than at London’s Hyde Park this weekend. With traditional British fayre including “ Great British food” in the form of pies, roasts, pastries, fish and chips, jellied eels and cream teas. If you can still waddle around after that, there are also Pearly Kings and Queens, The Commonwealth Zone, with African drummers and Maori Haka dancers for that good old colonial vibe and to top it all off the personification of all things good and wholesome about Britishness: Myleene Klass will be hosting it all.
What’s good?
It’s all very jolly and British
What’s not so good?
It’s all very jolly and British
The Great Brighton Street Party 2/6/12
Organised by Brighton Uncut, a faction of UK Uncut, the event’s Facebook page boasts the less than motivating blurb “The government is destroying our NHS, cutting the welfare state, obliterating public services, fighting wars, favouring the mega wealthy, indulging corporate tax dodgers, and sanctioning climate change. BUT one thing this government can’t do is to take away our community spirit. Now that’s something worth celebrating.” Which might make the more cynical among you want to stay home with the curtains closed until it all calms down and we can all go back to disgruntled muttering about the Governments failures in a civilised way rather than all this deluded community spirit nonsense. Bah Humbug.
What’s good?
There’s a a 1948 dress-up theme (to commemorate the birth of the welfare state)
What’s not so good?
Despite it’s noble intentions, it still involves a high degree of Organised Fun.
“Stuff” the Jubilee street party, London – 3/6/12
On Sunday there’s an anti-Jubilee street party in New Cross, organised by arty Goldsmiths students, that we have re-named a “stuff the jubilee party” as the original name may offend. If you hate the Royals with a venemous passion, this is for you. An” alternative to the flag waving queenie-idiolising jubilee celebrations” There won’t be a hint of Queen Betty or a nibble of bunting in sight.
What’s good?
Republicans can party hard and stick by their convictions.
What’s not so good?
You’ll be swapping tea cakes and Cool Britannia for anarchists and tarmac. You’ll have to be very hardcore to resist the urge to sneak in a cupcake and a small corgi in your pocket.
If you know of a great event happening this Jubilee weekend please add it in the comments below.
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