LYME Regis businesses are being encouraged to get into the celebratory spirit for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
An exciting programme of events is planned in Lyme Regis over the four-day Bank Holiday weekend to honour The Queen’s 70 years of service.
The events, hosted by Lyme Regis Town Council, start with a torchlight procession on the evening of Thursday 2 June, with a big finale event on Sunday 5 June to include a Jubilee Picnic in the seafront gardens, the BBC Big Band performing on the beach, and fireworks over the Cobb.
Jazz Jurassica will also be taking place across the whole weekend.
The council is inviting local businesses to join in with the festivities and make the weekend a whole town celebration.
Union Jack flags are already lining the town centre and the lights in the seafront gardens will switch to red, white and blue for the celebrations.
Businesses are being encouraged to dress their premises in flags, bunting and patriotic decorations.
Food outlets could run special offers on British classics such as cream teas, roast beef and fish and chips, while pubs could offer discounts on British ales and wines or invent one-off Jubilee cocktails.
Shops may choose to promote books by British authors, offer discounts on paintings by British artists, or run special offers on handmade gifts crafted in Britain.
The Jubilee Picnic is taking place on Sunday 5 June at 4pm in the seafront gardens so this may be an opportunity for food and drink outlets to offer ready-made picnic hampers.
Cllr David Sarson, chairman of the town council’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee working group said: “This is set to be a really exciting weekend of celebrations to mark this historic milestone and the council would love to see the whole town involved and getting into the celebratory spirit.
“It’s a great opportunity for businesses to show off the best of British and will hopefully provide a welcome boost on what we expect to be a very busy weekend.
“We’re anticipating lots of visitors to the town over the weekend, especially on the Sunday when we have our focal events, and we’d love to be able to show them that Lyme Regis really knows how to put on a party.
“Plus it’s an opportunity for local residents to come together for this once-in-a-lifetime event.”
The torchlight procession starts at 9.30pm on Thursday 2 June at the top of the Langmoor Gardens, proceeding down to the beach for the lighting of the beacon on the north wall by the mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Michaela Ellis.
On Sunday 5 June, the Jubilee Picnic in the seafront gardens starts at 4pm when local performers will entertain, followed at 7.30pm when the BBC Big Band will take to the beach stage.
The evening will be rounded off with a spectacular fireworks’ display over the Cobb.
More details about the events are available on the town council Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lymeregistowncouncil or at https://www.visit-dorset.com/lyme-regis/whats-on/