When you’ve spent 70 years on the throne, a party is definitely in order! And at a a respectable (and pretty mobile!) 96 years old, it’s worthy of a celebration, in fact, given that old Queenie is, of course, the shining jewel in our country’s crown. Many of Birmingham’s favourite venues are getting the party started in style this June bank holiday for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with plenty of fun, Jubilee-themed events in store for the people of Birmingham to enjoy. Check out our guide to some of the best Jubilee events happening in Birmingham over the June bank holiday.
1. Head to Victoria Square for four days of fun-filled celebrations
Victoria Square in Birmingham is hosting a free four-day celebration filled with events to mark the Jubilee weekend. The festivities will start on June 2 with a DJ and street entertainment, followed by live music and the lighting of the beacons at 9.45pm as part of a nationwide initative, accompanied by the Birmingham City Council Choir. There will be further music and street entertainment on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a Jubilee concert being broadcast live from Buckingham Palace on Saturday and Jukeboxers hosting a live band request show on Sunday. Birmingham Platinum Jubilee Celebrations will also be helping to feed the homeless during a time when we are all celebrating alongside charity Let’s Feed Brum and organisation Midland Langar Seva.
2. Indulge in plenty of sweet treats at Cadbury World’s Jubilee Tea
Cadbury World is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with its very own tea party over the bank holiday weekend. Taking place in a specially decorated marquee on June 4 & 5, the event features appearances from the Cadbury characters as well as family entertainers. Choose from a variety of delicious cakes including a classic Victoria sponge cake, gluten-free strawberry freakshake, vegan banana and cinder toffee cake and milk rocky road for chocolate fans. And of course you can explore the wonders of Cadbury World beforehand!
3. Bring out your competitive side (and the bubbles) at this Platinum Jubilee Brunch Social at Flight Club
Kickstart the long weekend with Flight Club‘s Platinum Jubilee Brunch Social, which will take place every day from 12pm and 2:30pm, where you’ll be treated like royalty with a Monarch Martini on arrival, a bottle of Prosecco for every guest, endless pizza and the option to play Social Darts. There’ll also be complimentary carafes of orange juice and water at the ready (mimosas, anyone?). If you decide to add Social Darts to your daytime gatherings, you’ll spend an hour getting competitive in the oche perfecting your throw and another hour toasting your champion at the bar.
4. Listen to some of the best music played throughout The Queen’s reign at Symphony Hall
On June 2, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will be paying its own tribute to The Queen with a special concert at Birmingham Symphony Hall featuring a selection of works from throughout her 70-year reign. The repertoire for the evening includes music from the coronation, works dedicated to The Queen and HRH The Princess Margaret, compositions from across the Commonwealth, personal favourites of Her Majesty and even bagpipes, in former Master of the Queen’s Music Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ An Orkney Wedding, With Sunrise. Tickets vary vary between £13 to £55 and the concert is presented by Classic FM’s former ITN newscaster, John Suchet.
5. Get in the royal spirit with a Jubilee afternoon tea at The Ivy
Celebrating the Jubilee with an afternoon tea that’s fit for a Queen, The Ivy Birmingham will be pulling out all the stops this coming bank holiday, with a limited-edition menu, and a Jubilee spin on the beloved Chocolate Bombe dessert. The afternoon tea will be packed with show-stopping cakes, classic British sandwiches a proper English scones. You can also sip on Royal-themed cocktails which have regal titles such as Lilibet, Queen Victoria and The Virgin Queen.
6. Watch aircrafts and hot air balloons head to the skies at the Midlands Air Festival
The Midlands Air Festival will fill the sky with aircraft, hot air balloons, helicopters, acrobatics, jets and so much more when it returns to the grounds of Ragley Hall Estate in Alcester for its fourth year June 2-4. The festival will include 200 multi-coloured giant balloons and feature the largest collection of special shaped character balloons in Europe. Across the three days of the festival, there will be an opportunity to see hot air balloon displays, both tethered and mass ascents, as well as the rather special Thursday evening night glow when balloons fire their burners in time to music and light up the night, plus firing their version of a beacon at 9.15pm as part of the national Jubilee celebrations.
7. Celebrate The Queen’s 70-year reign at The Old Crown’s Platinum Jubilee weekender
One building that has got quite a few years on Queenie is The Old Crown, Birmingham’s oldest pub. The iconic venue is hosting a weekend filled with fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee from June 2-4. Kicking things off on Thursday with live music from Esther Turner and DJ Romo Weeks, followed by Brummy legends and ska pioneers, The Equators for an epic live show on Friday. Then The Old Crown will round their weekender off with live music from everyone’s favourite Brummy Irishman, Ash Sheehan for an acoustic set, who will be joined by DJ Mazzy Snape. As well as all of that, there’ll be the usual street food, cocktails and more with outdoor bars to keep you quenched all weekend. This event is free to attend with a pre-booked space that can be found online.
8. Get on board the Jubilee celebrations at Severn Valley Railway
The bunting is out, the flags are ready, the steam engine is painted purple and between June -5, Severn Valley Railway is putting on the biggest Queen’s Platinum Jubilee party outside of London across their 16-mile line. Crowning the first day of the event will be the unveiling of locomotive 34027, complete with its new name – Elizabeth II – new number – 70 – and purple livery, specially commissioned to mark the Jubilee. In a nod to the 1953 coronation, there will be 1950s-themed entertainment at each station, including a pop-up milk bar and juke box at The Engine House, a vintage fairground ride at Bridgnorth and live music at Kidderminster. The Engine House will also be hosting a hand-built Paddington-themed exhibition, presented courtesy of BrickLive, and a display of work by photographer Jack Boskett, showcased under the title From Railways To Royalty. Plus, if your name is Elizabeth you can travel free!