PRESS RELEASE

Ref: JM/021/2023

Date: 20 February 2023

MBC invites children of Maidstone to celebrate King Charles III Coronation

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is holding a Traditional Street Party for local school children to join the Mayor to help celebrate King Charles III Coronation.

As part of the celebrations for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, MBC is hosting the party on Friday 5 May. The event is being held especially for the children of Maidstone and the Council is inviting primary schools from across the borough to celebrate the historic occasion.

Each school can apply for ten free tickets each to bring 10 of their Key Stage 2 students to join the Mayor in the celebrations.

The MBC Traditional Street Party will be held outside the Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex where the children can take part in creative activities, enjoy ‘royal’ entertainment and a picnic lunch between 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “I am delighted that we will be celebrating the Coronation of The King and Majesty The Queen Consort in Maidstone with a street party. I am so pleased that we are holding a Civic Event of this kind which will mean local children from across the borough can get together and enjoy the celebrations of such an historic event.”

As the number of seats are limited tickets will be allocated in order of applications received and all schools that would like to send their students to the party are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Each successful school is also invited to create a collage of art by the students to depict what the Coronation means to them which will be displayed at the street party and then exhibited in the Love Food @ Lockmeadow food hall.

Any school that would like to apply for tickets should complete an online form at: Mayor of Maidstone Coronation of King Charles III Street Party (google.com)

Successful schools will be notified of their ticket allocation by Friday 31 March 2023.

In addition to the Street Party the Council is encouraging communities to get together to mark the Coronation with local events involving as many people as possible. As part of this MBC is asking people to get together and hold their own Coronation Big Lunch, at which neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together and will take place across the country on the Sunday 7 May. MBC is reminding residents to make the most of all of the parks and open spaces across the borough to hold their own picnics as part of the Big Lunch.

In addition, on the Bank Holiday Monday 8 May everyone is being invited to take part in The Big Help Out encouraging people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact the Maidstone Borough Council Communications Team email: communications@maidstone.gov.uk or call: 01622 602560