Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend at South Mill Arts in Bishop's Stortford from Trooping the Colour to Retune in June music and comedy festival via The Queen's Knickers
South Mill Arts has lined up a programme of bank holiday weekend events and festivities for all the family to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee – from Trooping the Colour, tree planting and tea to crafts, comedy and a calming music festival.
The museum at the arts centre in South Road is laying on free craft sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, from 10am to 2pm, where children can make their very own crowns.
On Thursday at 10am, South Mill will screen the Trooping the Colour ceremony – normally held on the second Saturday in June to mark the Queen's official birthday – live on the big screen in the Maltings Bar.
With more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from Army regiments on parade, musicians from the Massed Bands of the Household Division and Corps of Drums, not to mention hundreds of horses, it will be a moment in history not to be missed.
At 11am and 2pm on Thursday, TaleGate Theatre Productions will be taking the stage in the auditorium with family show The Queen's Knickers.
Disaster strikes the palace when Her Majesty's underwear is nicked! Meanwhile, a little girl wonders what knickers the Queen will wear on a school visit. Audience members can get their faces painted before the show.
The venue is closed all day Friday.
On Saturday, it will host afternoon tea. For £5, choose between two sittings and toast Her Majesty while enjoying songs performed by members of Bishop's Stortford Musical Theatre Company.
At 1pm, to commemorate the Queen's 70-year reign, South Mill will be planting a tree in its garden.
Rounding things off on Sunday, Retune in June is an all-day music and comedy festival hosted by mental wellbeing charity Retune headlined by Jack Culllen. A seated audience in the auditorium will lend Jack's set a relaxed and intimate feel, offering him the chance to explain the inspiration behind his songs.
The festival kicks off at 11.30am with yoga with Vanessa Hatton Riveiro, followed by a mental wellbeing workshop with Retune founder Tom Ryder (1pm), comedy from Juliette Burton (3pm) and Steve Bugeja (5pm), and five-piece The Retuners featuring guest vocalists Ed Drewett and Scarlet Thomas (7pm).
Acoustic acts Jay Williams, Not My Circus, Phoebe Austin and Roisin O'Hagan will perform in the bar between the auditorium acts throughout the day, then round off your night by dancing to The Tom Braggins Trio once Jack’s set finishes.
To book tickets for the weekend's events, visit www.southmillarts.co.uk or call the box office on 01279 710200.