The four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations will be host to a wide range of events all marking the 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne.
Among these will be the lighting of the Jubilee beacons which will not only unite the whole of the UK but also the Commonwealth nations. More than 1,500 beacons will be lit up in celebration with many of those taking place all across Greater Manchester.
Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said: "The Beacons will enable local communities to join together and pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.
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"For the first time town criers, pipers, buglers and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations in their own individual and special way. It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting which will highlight both the diversity and the unity of the nation.
"The Queen has lit up our lives for seventy years through her dedicated service and commitment. We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour."
These are all the locations across Grater Manchester where the beacons will be lit:
Carrington
Carrington Recreational Field on Manchester Road (M31 4BX) will host a Jubilee beacon event on June 2 from 6pm. The beacon event, thought to be one of only four in Greater Manchester, will feature children's fair rides and games, food stalls, fireworks and live music from Colin Paul and the Persuaders and Alan Gagan Piper. The event is free to attend but tickets are required.
Oldham
Oldham Council will be holding a Beacon lighting and torchlit procession on June 2 in the town centre. 70 torchbearers, nominated by local residents, will parade through the town centre to Oldham Parish Church, before joining the rest of the United Kingdom in the lighting of a Platinum Jubilee Beacon.
The procession arrives in the Church gardens at 9.15pm and features appearances from Oldham’s Scottish Pipe Band, Oldham Choral Society and Oldham’s Lees band. Oldham Parish Church bell ringers will close the occasion. Free entry but tickets required.
Saddleworth
Saddleworth will also host a beacon lighting ceremony at Uppermill Conservative Club on June 2. Local councillors Max Woodvine and Luke Lancaster have organised the High Street ceremony, which takes place from 9pm and will feature Greenfield Band, the Reverend Monsignor Bernard Bickers and Parish Council's Chair, Cllr Pam Byrne.
Bury
A beacon lighting ceremony will take place at Peel Tower, Holcombe Hill on June 2. The ceremony will feature a piper and the Greater Manchester Army Cadets Corp of Drums, who will perform music written especially for the Platinum Jubilee before the beacon lighting at 9.45pm.
Salford
Buile Hill Park will host Salford’s only community beacon lighting ceremony, which will be held on June 2 from 9pm. The event will feature a local choir alongside fire drawings from arts company Walk The Plank.
Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre will also host a beacon lighting ceremony on June 2. The event will be hosted by the Girlguiding Greater Manchester West group making up more than 600 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Entertainment begins from 7pm at the main stage in The Orient, with the beacon lighting taking place outside the Great Hall at 9.45pm.
Stockport
A beacon will also be lit in Stockport in the market place. The event will take place at the same time as other events around the country: 9.45pm on June 2. As expected, there will be more beacon events lined up closer to the date, so be sure to check your local authority for further info.
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