If Saturday was all pomp and pageantry, today (Sunday, April 7) it was all about the people as communities came together to celebrate the second day of festivities for the King’s Coronation – capping off a perfect weekend of events.
Union Jacks, patriotic singing and much jollity was in evidence as street parties and official Big Lunches took place across the North East and North Yorkshire.
And all agreed that it was a great day - even a drop of rain or two failed to dampen the party mood.
The Northern Echo headed to a few parties to get an idea of how the people of the region were choosing to celebrate the historic occasion.
Residents of Langholm Crescent, Darlington have been putting on street parties since 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee.
The King’s Head, or rather, a small bar in a tent, kept residents and guests well-oiled all afternoon, and they probably deserved it after all the effort they put in to make the street party such a happy occasion.
Plenty of people chose to sport red, white, and blue, the Union Flag, or St George’s Flag, and the whole street looked positively patriotic.
Steve Rose, District Governor for Rotary North East told The Northern Echo: “We always have great parties on this street, and it’s so nice that so many people have got involved.
“It’s really brought people together. There’s been a great atmosphere all day and we’ve all had a fantastic time, the community's come together.”
We also headed to Neville Road where the celebrations continued, with a few familiar ‘faces’ making an appearance.
Known by residents as ‘Funville Road’, this street also hosts parties to make the most of national events.
Some wore masks of the Royals including King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, even the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as a Bishop and a “Penny Mordant-esque character.”
With bunting strewn across the street, and a comical royal throne, everyone was having a blast.
Dawn Kennedy-McCallien, who was responsible for much of the organisation, said: “It’s just a nice thing to do to get people involved. We’ve had such a fun day and had a good laugh with everyone, especially dressing up as the Royals.”
In the sun, wind and rain, members of the public from County Durham came out in their droves to celebrate the King’s Coronation weekend with picnics, pomp and perfect entertainment.
Despite the less-than-perfect weather including pouring rain in the early afternoon, attendees didn’t let it dampen their spirit - keeping calm and carrying on in true British style.
Partygoers flocked to Newton Aycliffe’s Town Park where they pitched up their blankets and waved their flags proudly as they listened to live entertainment, including a set from the Shine Choir.
Visitors to Market Square in Durham decked out large tables for a Big Lunch event in the heart of the city centre.
Later on into the afternoon more people came to Durham, partaking in drinks and playing music to ring in bank holiday Monday.
There was a right royal celebration at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
There were street parties at The 1940s Farm, in the back lane of The 1900s Pit Village, and the 1950s football pitch at Coronation Park and Recreation Ground.
Craft activities took place all day and there was a Coronation quiz trail for visitors to complete.
The sweet shop in The 1900s Town made coronation drops and catering outlets will have coronation-inspired food including coronation chicken sandwiches, coronation quiche and Victoria sponge.
John’s Café made Coronation-themed sundaes, and there was a special royal ice cream on offer at Beamish Delicious Ices.
Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, was also a Big Lunch venue, with partygoers enjoying a picnic of the lawns - while the weather held.
Those celebrating in Ferryhill kept the party spirit going with bouncing live entertainment from bands and giant inflatable slides and play areas for little ones.
Visitors could also grab an ice cold slushie from a local vendor and enjoy hot homemade donuts as the rain cleared and the sun came out again.
At the Victoria Jubilee Park, in nearby Spennymoor, locals gathered for a round of fantastic live entertainment from the likes of the Joanne Banks Dancers and the Spennymoor Town Band.
Residents of North Yorkshire came out in force, with Richmond, Northallerton, Thirsk, Ripon and Masham among towns creating their own unique coronation events.
In what was, at times, a scorching day in the region, it was perfectly matched by the show of unity, creativity and a fair share of fun thrown in.
With mountains of Union Jack bunting, paper crowns, and enough tea and scones to feed villages ten times over, you could barely move a mile without seeing another community fair, village event or street party.
The festivities began on Sunday with a coronation event in Priory Gardens in Richmond, which featured activities for all the family, including mini golf, face painting, a live band, and other party games.
The event even featured a ‘protector of Charles and Camilla’.
Dressed as an old-style police officer, future Mayor of Richmond, Ian Woods, who also organises history tours around the town, was dressed as Charles Manley; a police officer who was transferred from the newly formed Metropolitan Police in 1844 to become a third police officer in Richmond.
The event was organised by the community committee of Richmond Council, overseen by Loo Morton, who said that the party “wasn’t for purely royalists,” but was a chance to bring people closer together in Richmond.
Just a bit further south, families enjoyed a fun day at Thirsk and Sowerby Institute – bringing old and young together, with the event including a bouncy castle, stalls, and a ball pit.
The day was capped off with the most unique event of the day – the Parade of Floats in Masham.
Comprising around 30 vehicles, everything from tractors to Ferraris and from horses to farm wagons, the convoy set off from L’Ansons Mill before making its way through Masham for the crowds of people watching on.
Read more stories here:
- Darlington celebrates the Coronation with street parties
- County Durham's Coronation Weekend Celebrations - as it happened
- PICTURES from today's giant coronation parties across the North East
Preston Park Museum in Stockton celebrated the coronation with a host of activities.
Between a cooking showcase headed by local chef, Elizabeth McIver, 47, from Middlesbrough, using produce from the Park's gardens, to children making crowns, there was plenty on offer.
The two joked they would be finished by "William's coronation" and said Preston Park's event was a great way to remember
"[It's] been brilliant, we watched it from start to finish," both said.
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