REDDITCH and the surrounding areas are gearing up for a right royal weekend to celebrate the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Redditch Business Improvement District (BID) will host a Music Festival and Continental Food Market in the town centre.
The three-day fun filled event will feature a range of food and drink traders from around the world, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.
On Saturday the town will be treated to a performance by the D-Day Darlings with the Coronation Big Lunch the following day.
BID manager, Muj Rahman, said: “We are incredibly excited to announce and host this event – it is a fantastic opportunity to bring together the Redditch community and be part of the celebrations.
Everyone is invited to come and join in the party, celebrate our monarchy and the diversity of our town.
“Food and drink are so central to the way that we celebrate special occasions or to the way that we socialise with others, so it is wonderful to be able to offer Redditch locals the space to come together, socialise and just soak up the festive atmosphere.
“With lots of family entertainment planned for the weekend, it is a great way of celebrating how multicultural our local community is, reflecting our vibrant town and all that it has to offer.”
The extravaganza will be open for visitors from 10am to 6pm, Friday to Sunday, and will take place in the town centre around St Stephens Church. The event is being hosted in partnership with the market events experts RR Events.
* On Sunday, May 7, Church Hill Big Local is co-hosting a Coronation Big Lunch with YMCA Worcestershire at Willow Trees Community Centre.
From midday to 4pm, residents can enjoy a selection of stalls, games including splat the rat, hook a duck and coconut shy, live music and food including hot dogs and hot pork sandwiches.
* On Monday, May 8, Redditch Cricket, Hockey, Rugby and Squash Club is hosting a coronation celebration where all families and friends are welcome.
From 11am to 4pm, people can enjoy a barbecue, cake sale and bouncy castle.
* In Wythall, residents are being encouraged to bring lunch for a picnic at Wythall Park on Silver Street on Sunday, May 7.
There will also be a street market in the car park from 3pm followed by a disco from 5pm to 11pm and fireworks provided by Wythall Parish Council at 9pm.
* Studley is also holding a Big Lunch event – at the Recreation Ground on Sunday, May 7.
There will be afternoon crafts, games and activities, and interactive storytelling by Aunty Jen Productions.
A local Town Crier will announce the proclamation for the King’s Coronation and 1st Studley Scout Group are separately providing activities including a S’mores and a firelighting challenge in the Scout Hut Grounds with toilet facilities available.
The village has been decorated ready for the coronation by the now renowned Studley Stitchers.
A spokesperson from the group said: “We have put up a beautifully knitted wreath, a Union Flag topper, celebration bunting and red, white and blue chain link bunting too.
“We reached out to our neighbours in Mappleborough Green and surprised them with their very own coronation topper.”
The toppers has been posted on the Royal Mail website which has delighted the hard-working yarn-bombers.
