PLANS to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign in Southampton have been unveiled - and it includes street parties and tree planting.

This year marks The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, a celebration of her 70 years of service, and Southampton City Council has announced plans to mark the special occasion.

Planned activities include the Big Platinum Celebration in Mayflower Park, planting new trees, afternoon tea with the Mayor of Southampton if you are 70 this year, and more.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Heritage, Cllr Spiros Vassiliou, said: "The programme of activities in Southampton to honour our Queen’s service have a real focus on bringing local communities together to mark the occasion with street parties and local events."

A variety of events and activities for all ages will be taking part in the city before and during the June Bank Holiday weekend, so here is what you can expect.

Big Platinum Celebration 

Unity 101 Community radio station in Southampton is organising the Big Platinum Celebration event at Mayflower Park from 10am to 9pm on Sunday, June 5.

Highlights will include performances from local artists including DJs and buskers, as well as dancers and poets.

In addition to that, tribute band Forever Queen will be performing hit songs by music legends Queen. 

The event will also welcome food stalls and cooking demonstrations, funfair rides and family activities.

This is a ticketed event. More details can be found at www.thebigplatinumfestival.org 

Jubilee Afternoon Tea with the Mayor of Southampton 

A special, celebratory opportunity has arisen for those in Southampton celebrating their 70th birthday in 2022.

The Mayor of Southampton would like to invite people who are celebrating the special birthday for a Jubilee afternoon tea in the Mayor’s Parlour. 

Spaces will be limited, and the successful birthday guests will be chosen at random. 

More details of how to get involved will be announced soon.

Lighting Up Southampton 

Look out for the country's colours as the city will be illuminated in red, white and blue throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, which runs from June 2 to June 5.

Southampton City Art Gallery and library at the Civic Centre and O2 Guildhall building will be illuminated each evening throughout the Jubilee weekend, and the Queens Peace Fountain will also have a red, white and blue water display.

Queen's Park will also boast a red, white ans blue lighting scheme throughout the weekend.

Street Parties in Southampton

For those who like to mark a special occasion with a party, applications can be made to close a street or road to host a street party with friends and neighbours. 

More than anything, street parties have traditionally been associated with jubilees and the Platinum Jubilee will be no exception. 

Those wishing to organise a street party can find more information here www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/community-involvement/community-street-closures/

The Queen’s Green Canopy  

Parties can be fun, but the council is taking a 'green' approach to the celebrations.
To help the environment and make areas greener, the council will be planting 110 trees as a 'special gift' for the Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year. 

This is forms part of the council's plan to plant approximately 300 new trees throughout 2022. 

Already, 40 trees have been planted in Townhill Green and a further 70 trees will be planted in Riverside Park this year. 

On top of this, the council will be designing and planting special Jubilee Flower

Beds in the summer with a Union Jack theme in Palmerston Park and two themed flower beds featuring the colours of red, white, and blue flowers in West (Watts) Park.

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund

Culture and creativity is next on the list of celebratory activities. 

UKCF (UK Community Foundations) is working with Arts Council England to distribute a new fund which will enable communities to celebrate The Queen’s

Platinum Jubilee through culture and creativity.

Applicants are encouraged to partner with established artists, creatives and cultural organisations to develop their activities, to ensure that the Jubilee celebrations give people the chance to experience the best of the country’s culture, while also celebrating an important milestone in national history. 

Further information can be found here www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/news/arts-council-jubilee-fund 

More activities will be announced in the coming months.