The King’s Coronation bank holiday weekend

People across the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees are invited to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III over the Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 6 – Monday 8 May.

The Coronation Big Lunch

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6 May. Witness history taking place in Stockton High Street, as we celebrate in style with Stockton’s Coronation Big Lunch.

Join us on Stockton High Street on Saturday 6 May between 10am – 4pm for a jam packed programme of free entertainment for the whole family, including:

• Street Theatre – From 10am, street theatre will entertain the high street with entertainment from The Satsumas and the Queen’s Guard Stiltwalkers, music from Worker Bee Brass Band and interactive performances from ‘Come Bowl with Me’ throughout the day.
• The Living Archive Cabins – From 10am to 4pm, the Living Archive cabins on Stockton High Street will present a historic photography exhibition, craft activities, and an opportunity to write a postcard to the King and record a voice message in our audio guest book with PEG creations and the Council’s youth-led movement, Bright Minds Big Futures. There are also fun themed props at the pop-up photobooth.
• Workshops and Music Jam Sessions – Fancy yourself as a music maker?
  Drop into workshops and a music-making jam session with Apollo Arts Music from 10am to 12pm.
• Coronation flower-pressing workshop – Visit the Coronation flower-pressing workshop to create mini lanterns inspired by King Charles III’s Royal Emblem with local florist Hannah Elliot of New Leaf Stockton.
• Free Victorian Fair – Throughout the day, visit the Victorian fair and the Ferris wheel and carousel, get your face painted and take part in balloon modelling workshops.
• Dance workshops – Have fun in free dance workshops from 10.15am to 11.30am with a chance to learn Salsa or the Charleston. Urban Kaos will also lead a ‘Best of British’ community dance party between 11.30am to 12pm.
  Or join a traditional ‘Through the Decades’ social tea dance by Round in Circles from 12pm to 2.30pm.
• The Wildcats of Kilkenny – Enjoy free live music with a performance from the Wildcats of Kilkenny at the Plinth from 2.45pm – 4pm which will certainly get everyone dancing and round off the day’s events.
• Stream it back – Take a seat in front of Stockton Town Hall to watch the live stream of the momentous occasion on a big screen.

Not forgetting the food and drink!

From 11.30am sample delicious free ‘Royal Recipes’ served by local bakers Tasty Tarts and Sprouts community food charity, along with free cookie samples from Sip and Sugar. There will also be plenty of food and drink stalls to choose from – or bring along your own picnic to enjoy on the day!

Traders on the day will include:
•    Tasty Tarts – cakes and sweet treats
•    The Cocktail Box – cocktails and mocktails
•    Forged Flavours –  Delicious Latin, American and Asian inspired dishes
•    Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club – artisan savoury pies and sausage rolls
•    Sip and Sugar – cookies and cookie pies
•    Stewy’s Ices – ice cream
•    Royal British Legion – tombola

The King’s Coronation Big Lunch Timetable*

Stage and Dancefloor

10:15am

Salsa class with Salsa in Yarm

11am

Charleston and Swing class with 6th Street Swing and SwingFit

11.30am

‘Best of British’ dance party with Urban Kaos

12pm

Tea Dance with Round in Circles

2:45pm

The Wildcats of Kilkenny

Workshop

10am-12pm

Music making drop-in with Apollo Arts

1pm-4pm

Flower pressing crafts drop-in with New Leaf

10am-4pm

Living Archives drop-in and photobooth with BMBF, PEG Creations

Free activities throughout the day

• Street Theatre from Satsumas, Palace Guard Stilt Walkers and Worker Bee Brass Band
• Come Bowl with Me performances
• Coronation Ceremony Livestream
• Victorian Funfair
• Facepainting and Balloon Modelling
• High Street Window Trail
• Free Food Samples

*Times and activities are subject to change

Get involved with our digital programme

If you can’t get to Saturday’s event, you can still get involved from home.
There are a range of Coronation activities to do in our downloadable activity pack and Coronation postcard (available below), flag-making crafts with artist Adele Catchpole, to baking Eton Mess Teacup Cheesecakes with Tasty Tarts and a Coronation Curry by Sprouts community charity.

Watch them for yourself here…

Make Eton Mess Teacup Cheesecakes with Tasty Tarts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgD-4AZxV8k

Make Coronation Street Party Flags with Adele Catchpole Part 1: https://youtu.be/rQC_1VUhOmM

Make Coronation Street Party Flags with Adele Catchpole Part 2: https://youtu.be/XN6v02WCZ50

Make a Coronation Cutty with Sprouts Community Food Charity: https://youtu.be/LK4MhUrwxN0

Download our Coronation Activity pack

Download our Coronation postcard

It’s going to be a party not to be missed!