Coronation celebrations across the Bradford district
The Bradford district is gearing up for a once in a lifetime celebration for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
There will be events and activities for people of all ages across the whole district so that residents can really make the most of the extra bank holiday weekend and celebrate this exceptional moment in history.
Bradford Council is holding family fun events at Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley Sunday 7 May and at Lister Park in Bradford on Monday 8 May. The activities at these events are all free and include a climbing wall, inflatables, sports, games, dance arts and craft and will run from 11am to 3pm.
Flags and bunting will be flying in Centenary Square and in the town centres of Keighley, Bingley, Ilkley and Shipley. The bells of City Hall will ring out and City Hall clock tower will be lit up in red, white and blue for the whole of the bank holiday weekend.
The council has also supported residents, organisations and community groups to arrange over 200 events across the district. This means that people in communities and neighbourhoods can get together and share in the celebrations to mark this historically significant event.
Schools across the district have been learning about the coronation in history classes and many will be holding their own events to celebrate.
The council’s libraries have a host of events and activities up until the 14 May right across the district for people to join it with.
Bradford District Museums and Galleries will be holding events and activities at their venues on the 6 and 7 May. Highlights include a family trail based on the children’s book The King’s Pants as well as crown making and decorating.
In Silsden the pavement balls, which were decorated for the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 and painted with Union Flags for the Platinum Jubilee are being given a fresh coat of paint.
The Addingham Ducks painted on the road for the Tour de Yorkshire in 2017 have had a Coronation themed makeover.
The Big Screen in Centenary Square will be live streaming coverage of the coronation ceremony on Saturday 6 May as well as the Coronation Concert on Sunday 7 May.
People will also be able to watch coverage of the Coronation Ceremony at Bradford Cathedral where it will be live-streamed on a big screen. There will also be the opportunity to take part in an act of worship before the ceremony and refreshments will be available. Other venues showing the events on a big screen include Bingley Arts Centre, The Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley, The Hive Silsden, Woodside Village Centre and Wibsey Methodist Church.
A Civic Service of Thanksgiving for the King’s Coronation featuring the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, the Cathedral Choir, and representatives of the County, City and District is being held at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 7 May 3pm to 4pm. The cathedral will also be taking part in ‘Ring for the King’ where a quarter peal of the Cathedral’s bells will be rung ahead of the Sunday Civic Service.
On Monday 8 May people across the district will be taking part in ‘The Big Help Out’. The initiative will see thousands of people across the country getting together to volunteer and lend a hand.
Bradford Cathedral has organised a litter pick on the streets around the cathedral in conjunction with ‘Don’t Mess with Bradford’. People are invited to gather at 10am in the Cathedral grounds, and equipment and guidance will be provided, and the session will conclude at 12.30pm with a shared lunch; those taking part are invited to bring their own packed-lunch.
Information about how the Bradford district is celebrating the Coronation can be found on the council’s website https://www.bradford.gov.uk/arts-and-culture/whats-on-in-bradford-district/celebrating-the-coronation-of-king-charles-iii/
