Coronation Big Lunch

Buckingham Palace has announced that ceremonial, celebratory, and community events will take place over the Coronation Weekend between Saturday 6th and Monday 8th May 2023. North Wootton Village Hall will be holding a Coronation Big Lunch between 11am and 5:30pm on Sunday 7th May.

The Village Hall has played host to many celebrations of royal milestones including last year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and was even the village’s televisual hub for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will be no exception.

Competitions

Kickstarting our Coronation celebrations will be two village-wide competitions.

Scarecrow Trail

The first is a scarecrow trail taking place from 29th April until the day of the Coronation Big Lunch – 7th May.

Scarecrows will be displayed in private front gardens throughout North Wootton, as well as some in public areas such as the Village Hall. Once entries are confirmed, you will be able to download a map from our website and take a walk around North Wootton and decide which is your favourite scarecrow. (For those unable to do so, we will upload photos and votes can be placed online too, and printed copies of the maps will also be available).

The theme is “Kings and Queens” – you could create Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II, Charles II, The Queen Mother, Elizabeth I, George VI, Charles III… the choice is yours.

If you live in North Wootton, it is FREE to enter the competition and a prize of a £100 voucher (courtesy of Ward Gethin Archer) will be awarded to the makers of the scarecrow with the most votes. If you’d like to enter and make a scarecrow for display in your front garden, please complete the entry form found here:

Winners will be announced during the Coronation Big Lunch.

Learn more about how to make your scarecrow here:

• Country Living article: How To Make A Scarecrow

• Activity Village guide: Make A Scarecrow

• Video from The Grey Gardener

Best Decorated Home

The second curtain-opener to our Coronation Celebrations is a Best Decorated Home competition. We invite you to decorate the exterior of your home in red, white, and blue (Union flags, bunting, balloons…) for the Coronation weekend.

Once again, there will be prizes available for the competition winners. Our judges will pick their favourites and winners will be announced during the Coronation Big Lunch.

Coronation Big Lunch

A street party style event will be held at the Village Hall as part of the national Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7th May. This event will be FREE for all to attend.

Between 11am and 5:30pm, there will be live music from The Eddie Seales Big Band, face painting by Rainbow Tiger Face Painting, village fete style games to play, competitions, and food and drink. Entrance to the Coronation Big Lunch is FREE, as is all entertainment, food, and drink.

The Big Help Out

Buckingham Palace has said that The Big Help Out will be held on Monday 8th May. The Big Help Out will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

In tribute to His Majesty The King’s public service, The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas. The aim of The Big Help Out is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the Coronation Weekend.

Royal Family Website

The Village Hall will be open on Monday 8th May from 10am until 2pm and local charitable and voluntary organisations such as Wootton Park Association will be present. You can find out more about what they do and volunteer your time and help as an individual, business, or organisation.

Thank you

The Coronation Big Lunch would not be able to go ahead without the dedication of the Village Hall Management Committee, and we must thank the National Lottery Community Fund – without their grant, we would not be able to make this event free for all to attend.