Coronation celebrations in Keynsham and Saltford

PEOPLE in Keynsham and Saltford will gather to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.

Keynsham Memorial Park hosts a Picnic in the Park on Sunday May 7, from 12 noon to 5pm, to which residents are invited to bring their picnic blanket and spend the afternoon.

Activities for the whole family will include bandstand performances, children’s races, free face-painting, morris dancers, jugglers, a Punch and Judy show, and a crown-making craft workshop.

Stalls from local businesses will line upper Memorial Park to sell products and crafts, and there will be toy tombolas and lucky dips raising money for local charities.

The event has been organised by Keynsham Town Council, which states: “Please can residents be mindful that glass is not permitted in Memorial Park and we ask that you help out our local Wombles by picking up your own litter.”

St John’s Church in the High Street will also contribute to the celebrations.

Throughout the coronation weekend, from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Monday, and from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, the church will have floral displays, the tower will be lit up with the image of the national flag, and the churchyard will be full of knitted blooms.

Everyone is invited to a special service to celebrate the royal occasion on Sunday at 10.30am. On the Monday from 2pm to 4pm, St John’s will hold its own coronation celebration, either indoors or out, depending on the weather. There will be flowers and music, stalls and refreshments, and face-painting for the children. The finale will be cake and bubbly (or soft drinks) at 4pm, accompanied by a peal of bells.

In Saltford, residents are invited to a free afternoon tea with live entertainment.

Saltford Community Association will hold the coronation event at Saltford Hall on Monday May 8, from 2.30pm to 5pm. If organisers are confident that the weather will stay fair, the event will be held outside the hall – if not, it will be held indoors.