Diamond days
If there's one thing Guernsey does well, it's celebrations. And there are plenty to look forward to during the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday. Here's our guide to what's happening – read on, and prepare to party...
If there's one thing Guernsey does well, it's celebrations. And there are plenty to look forward to during the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday. Here's our guide to what's happening – read on, and prepare to party...
For once, we haven't had to take down our reams of red, white and blue after Liberation Day. We have left the Union flags flapping and the bunting flying for further celebrations – the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
From street parties and church services to torchlight processions and our part of the national beacon chain, Guernsey is immersing itself in patriotic revelry.
SATURDAY 2 JUNE
8am – Commonwealth Flags Mast Ceremony.
The raising of the national flag of each of the 54 nations of the Commonwealth at Weighbridge Roundabout, St Peter Port.
10.30am – Celebration Church Service with Churches Together at Town Church.
11am-5pm – Big Top Party, Cambridge Park, St Peter Port.
2-4.30pm – Queen's Diamond Jubilee Street Party, Union Street, St Peter Port.
Bouncy castles, face painting, balloon modelling, music and dancing, as well as plenty to eat.
3pm – Vale and St Sampson's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, L'Islet Common and Grande Havre Bay.
Bands, Crown and Anchor, sideshows and beach events, plus licensed bar, hog roast, bean jar and ice cream to buy.
All day – Normandy Market, at North Beach car park. Runs until Tuesday.
5-7pm – Classic films from the 1950s – St Peter's Parish Community Hall.
7.30pm – The University of Chichester Pops Orchestra at St James. Contact the box office on 711361 or visit www.guernseytickets.gg.
10pm – Torchlight/glow-stick parade and fireworks display at Grand Havre Bay, Vale.
SUNDAY 3 JUNE
10.30am – Service of Celebration at St Martin's Community Centre. A welcome to all denominations will be followed by a glass of Pimm's and a slice of jubilee cake.
11am – Forest Church Service.
11am – St Peter's Church Service.
12 noon – Petit Bot street party and opening of the Diamond Jubilee Interpretation Centre.
2.30-4.30pm – Young family fun at St Peter's. A 1950s-style young family fun and games afternoon at Les Buttes.
3.30-6.30pm – Senior citizens' tea party at Les Cotils, St Peter Port. Musical entertainment and the promise of good, old-fashioned fun for all.
6.30pm – St Saviour's Church service.
MONDAY 4 JUNE
8.30am – Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club/ Guernsey Yacht Club rally. The yachts have been invited to moor in Victoria Marina, St Peter Port and will be decorated, adding to the festive fun.
10am – NCCPG Sale at Sausmarez Manor.
11.30am-4.30pm – Castel parish celebrations at Fairfield.
12.30-1pm – Service of thanksgiving by the Rev. Dekker at St Andrew's Church.
1-5pm – St Andrew's street party.
2.30-4.30pm – Garden/street party at Les Buttes, St Peter's.
7pm – Concert at St Martin's Parish Hall, for the more mature members of the parish, with refreshments being served during the interval.
7.30pm – St Peter's celebrations move to Fort Grey for beach activities and the finale at around 10.30pm.
9.30pm – St Andrew's celebrations culminate in a torchlight procession and lighting of the jubilee beacon at Rue des Buttes.
10.15pm – The lighting of the beacon at Jerbourg Point, St Martin's.
10. 15pm – The illumination of the replica windmill at Les Grantez, Castel.
10.21pm – The lighting of Guernsey's beacon as part of the national beacon chain at Castle Cornet, then fireworks at Castle Emplacement at around 10.30pm.
TUESDAY 5 JUNE
10am-5pm – Royal Banquet Picnic Party at Castle Cornet.
12 noon – 21-gun salute at Castle Cornet.
2.30pm – Traditional garden party at Sausmarez Manor.
THURSDAY 14 to SUNDAY 17 JUNE
Diamond Jubilee Flower Festival at St Saviour's Church and environs.
14 and 15 – 10am-5pm, 16 – 10am-1pm, and 17 – 11am-5.30pm.
SUNDAY 17 JUNE
3-8pm – St Saviour's Community Centre and Mont Varouf Meadow Floral walks and family fun with Kids v. Parents Olympics and later on barbecue and music.
UNTIL SUNDAY 17 JUNE
Candie Gardens – an outdoor display of historic photographs of the Queen's visits to the Bailiwick as part of the Guernsey Photography Festival. Gardens open from 7.30am until sunset (8- 8.30pm).
FRIDAY 29 JUNE
Rock 'n' Roll Evening at Styx, St Peter's. Tickets are £5 and are available to book now. For more information, call Ray Woodcock on 265502.
SATURDAY 7 JULY
1-4pm – St Saviour's Church Jubilee Revel at rectory glebe.
3-8pm – Torteval Grand Parish Picnic.
