Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee
Celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s record-breaking 70-year reign at Rye Farm Meadow with music, stalls, entertainers, plenty of food and drink and a funfair. This will be a chance to celebrate the Jubilee, 70 years of Abingdon life and the community today.
WHAT’S ON
There will be a range of free and ticketed activities for everyone to enjoy down by the Thames at Rye Farm Meadow
Wednesday 1 June – 5 to 10pm
We will start with a concert on Wednesday evening, headlined by The Smyths and supported by The Dead Beat Apostles.*
As well as normal and disabled portaloos, a ‘mobiloo’ will be available for disabled attendees.
Also on this day the ATOM Science Festival will present a talk at the Unicorn Theatre by Professor Frank Close on 70 years of science in Abingdon.
Thursday 2 June
- Free from 11am to 4pm
- Ticketed from 5 to 10pm
The cream of Abingdon’s clubs and societies will be at Rye Farm to promote their activities, with live music and performances in the main field (ticketed in the evening from 5pm), finishing at 10pm. During the day, you can enjoy a traditional Punch and Judy performance and meet a visitor from the 1950s. Bands include Superloose, Llama Bite, Captain Kuppa T and the Zeppelins, Doug Graves and the Sextons, Beard of Destiny, Darkgnoss, Daze, The Shapes, Warren James and Hope & Glory.*
As well as normal and disabled portaloos, a ‘mobiloo’ will be available for disabled attendees.
Friday 3 June
- Free from 11am to 4pm
- Ticketed from 5 to 10pm
We will host the popular ATOM! science festival and have music and performances through the day, ticketed in the evening, finishing at 10pm. During the day we will be joined by our 1950s time traveller. Bands playing on Friday include Von Braun, Mighty Redox, Barracane, Molly Davis, Daisy Chain, Bryan and Jaci, Hogerswolf, Ben Heaney, Rodney Quakes and Rockade.* How much entertainment can you take?!
For a more relaxed way to enjoy the event, the town and its surroundings, the Friends of Abingdon will conduct guided walks around the town which have been created especially to mark the Platinum Jubilee. You can find out more about the walks here.
As well as normal and disabled portaloos, a ‘mobiloo’ will be available for disabled attendees.
Saturday 4 June
- Free from 11am to our close at 6pm.
Join us for a free day for everyone to enjoy music performances, a series of dance displays in the marquee and local sports groups demonstrating their activities. Our 1950s time traveller will be here and Punch and Judy will return. There will also be a face painter and a balloon modeller.
All this and a funfair open all week.
Please note that it has not been possible to provide a ‘mobiloo’ for this day as none were available.
* The advertised bands may change but we hope that this will not happen.
Free and ticketed sessions
We have provided free daytime events and ticketed evening entertainment to ensure that everyone can come along and enjoy themselves. We will need to limit numbers to 5,000 for safety reasons even during the free sessions. Tickets for the evenings have been priced as reasonably as possible and are being sold to help cover our costs.
Sunday 5 June – the Bun Throw
The week will finish with Abingdon’s celebrated bun throw in the Market Place at 5pm on Sunday 5 June, with music provided by the Abingdon Concert Band from 4pm. The bun throw is being held at this time to follow the Big Jubilee Lunch.
PLEASE NOTE THAT PARKING WILL BE SEVERELY RESTRICTED AT RYE FARM MEADOW AND YOU ARE ASKED NOT TO DRIVE TO THE EVENT UNLESS YOU HAVE MOBILITY PROBLEMS.
GET INVOLVED
If you have a local group, club or society and you would like to join us at the celebration, please complete the form at the bottom of this page and send it to enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk. We are also looking for caterers and commercial stalls: please get in touch to find out more.
BUY TICKETS
If you would to come along to the evening events you will need tickets, including free tickets for children. Please click the button below to buy tickets for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evening.
You can find our terms and conditions here.
Platinum Jubilee Merchandise
now on sale at the Visitor Information Centre
Roysse Court, Bridge Street, Abingdon OX14 3HU
call 01235 522711
BESPOKE JUBILEE MERCHANDISE
Please email enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk for more information.
