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The country will be raising a toast to the Queen as we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee this June. An historic occasion for the UK made even better by the fact we get an extra Bank Holiday. Oh yes, that means an incredible four-day weekend (June 2nd-5th)! With a scorching summer on the cards this year, we look at some great ways to make the most of the time off and the perfect excuse to party.
Throw a garden party
Whether you go down the traditional tea party route or throw a good old British barbie, there’s nothing better than inviting your nearest and dearest round for a ‘knees up’ in the garden. The British weather can be a bit unpredictable but don’t let that stop you. Plan ahead and have parasols in place to offer much-needed shade if the sun makes an appearance or some protection from unwelcome showers. Alternatively, a pop-up gazebo is a great way to shade even larger areas or, thanks to its removable walls, provide a cosy area to sit if the weather really isn’t playing ball.
In search of inspiration for tasty treats, then check out these Jubilee-themed recipes and, of course, giving a nod to tradition, you can’t go wrong with coronation chicken. Veggie or vegan guests can still indulge with these coronation chickpea sandwiches or Coronation aubergine.
Garden furniture in need of an update before you’re ready to have guests over? Fear not, because LifestyleGarden® has a fantastic array of dining sets, relaxed sofa configurations, and coffee and bistro sets to get your outdoor space looking its best. So, get those decorations up, plan your menu, pour the Pimms, throw on a great playlist and get ready to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in style!
Celebrate with your neighbours
Lockdown saw communities come together and neighbours forging wonderful new friendships. The nation loves a street party, so instead of hosting your own festivities in separate spaces, why not come together for a truly memorable celebration.
If you’re worried you won’t have enough space for everyone to sit, then invite people to bring whatever furniture they have outdoors ready for some mismatched fun – it is a collaborative effort after all. Lightweight garden furniture makes occasions like this a dream, meaning you can relocate and rearrange with ease. Rather than lugging heavy wooden chairs around, invest in a chic aluminium collection, like Solana, which is super light and has the added benefit of being maintenance free. Even better, the Duraboard® tabletop is stain resistant and easy to clean, making it ideal for entertaining and means you can relax during special occasions, knowing your stunning furniture won’t get ruined during the fun.
The Eden Project has re-branded its annual Big Lunch and is hosting a once-in-a-lifetime ‘The Big Jubilee Lunch’, encouraging communities to come together, whether it’s just sharing a cuppa on the doorstep with a neighbour or having a big bash in the street. Download your free pack full of ideas, inspiration, recipes and invitations. Keep the theme going and add some fancy dress into the mix – whether people don patriotic red, white and blue attire or travel back in time and wear 1950s-inspired fashion to mark when the queen was crowned.
Get the kids involved
Keeping the little (and not-so-little) ones occupied is key to making sure you can relax and enjoy the weekend, so organise some activities to keep hands and minds busy. DIY Jubilee-themed decorations are a great activity and can be as easy or as complex as you want them to be, which is great for different age groups.
- DIY bunting – Give them old newspapers or magazines to cut up, sticking red, white and blue pictures together or simply get them to colour in the bunting. For something a bit more intricate, try this wool Union Jack garland.
- Paper chains – perfect for younger children; just cut out strips of coloured paper for them to stick to glue together
- Create a jubilee wreath – there are plenty of ideas on Pinterest, using flowers, poms, ribbons, wool, fabric and even pegs.
Meanwhile, come up with some games and fun challenges to keep them entertained, including with a Jubilee quiz to test their knowledge about the Royal family and why we’re celebrating, or even how about a game of ‘pin the diamond on the crown’.
The official Platinum Jubilee website has a host of free downloadable activities for children to enjoy, including this Royal Maze and the chance to colour in a corgi (not a real one, of course!).
If you decide not to host your own celebration or are still looking for other fun things to do over the long weekend, you can find details of all the events in your local area here, from the Trooping of the Colour and official appearances by the Royal Family, to community picnics, musical events and charity fundraisers.
You won’t be left wanting for something to fill your time this weekend but, if all you actually feel like doing is sitting back and putting your feet up in the sunshine, then make sure you do it in style and comfort with one of LifestyleGarden’s stunning collections.