Events in Wimborne Minster

All events are subject to change. For more information please contact Wimborne Tourist Information Centre on 01202 886116.

Town Square Opening & Jubilee Plans

Events happening every day from Thursday 31st May until Tuesday 5th June.

Wimborne Minster Town Square Enhancement and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Programme

Thursday 31^st May – Tuesday 5^th June 2012

Join with us to celebrate the re-opening of the enhanced Town Square area and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a programme of fun and entertainment.

The Town Square has undergone a significant enhancement programme to provide a more attractive and safe environment for visitors, residents and shoppers. The new paved area provides a wonderful central point for community use and to provide additional attractions and entertainment in the Town.

Wimborne Minster Treasures are open over this celebration weekend

Priest’s House Museum & Garden, High Street; Open every day 10am – 4.30pm, except Sunday; Adult £2, Concession £1, Child: Free. Celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with two new exhibitions, 'Let's Celebrate' and '60 Years of Fashion'. Using collections rich in archaeology and costume, and local history material, the museum tells the story of East Dorset. Discover an historic townhouse, with period rooms including a working Victorian kitchen.

Walford Mill Crafts, Stone Lane (just 10 minutes walk), Open every day 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm, free entry; featuring exhibitions Make 52 and Dorset Art Weeks - guest and resident makers and a range of quality British crafts.

Wimborne Minster - Open each day 9.30am – 5pm, Sunday 12.30pm – 5.30pm

Wimborne Model Town, King Street – Open every day 10am – 5pm. Adult £5, Senior Citizen £4.50, Child £4 (3-15 years), under 3’s free; Re-creating the historic market town of Wimborne Minster exactly as it was during the 1950s, you can get really close up and even touch the buildings, checking out every minute detail of over 100 shop window displays.

Thursday 31^st May

6.30pm – 9.30pm Minster Flower Festival preview Street Party – ticket only £5 each available from The Minster shop (inside the Church) or the Parish Office, Church House.

Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

Friday 1^st June

9.30am – 5.30pm Minster Flower Festival with occasional musical entertainment

9.30am – 5.30pm Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

Saturday 2^nd June

EAST BOROUGH into Town from Hanham Road, HIGH STREET, CORN MARKET, COOK ROW, CHURCH STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 9am – 6pm

9.30am – 5.30pm Minster Flower Festival with occasional musical entertainment, free entry, donations welcome

9.30am – 5.30pm Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

10.00am An entertaining opening of the enhanced Town Square

Join us for an entertaining official opening, with street theatre performances from 10am.

Representatives from Dorset County Council, East Dorset District Council and Wimborne Minster Town Council, including the Mayor.

The Priest’s House Museum will give an interesting and brief history of The Square and the recent archaeological finds The Square will then be blessed by The Minster’s Rector, Rev Vanessa Herrick;

Ceremonies will be led by The Mayor’s Town Crier and Serjent, Chris Brown.

A gun salute from Wimborne Minster’s Militia in celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

11.10am – 5pm Celebrations continue with street theatre and community entertainment

11.30 – 3pm Flag making open workshops run by Walford Mill Crafts, Minster Green

Informal Picnic area on Waitrose Willow Walk

Sunday 3^rd June

12.30pm – 2.30pm Big Jubilee Lunch on the Minster Green – bring your own rug and picnics or takeaway food from nearby cafes and shops. (If wet, will take place in The Minster)

12.30pm – 5.30pm Minster Flower Festival with occasional musical entertainment, free entry, donations welcome

12.30pm – 5.30pm Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

Monday 4^th June

9.30am – 5.30pm Minster Flower Festival with occasional musical entertainment, free entry, donations welcome

9.30am – 5.30pm Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

11am – 5pm Wimborne Royal British Legion, West Borough, will be holding a family fun day including a BBQ, bouncy castle, face painting, disco

Tuesday 5^th June

EAST BOROUGH into Town from Hanham Road, HIGH STREET, CORN MARKET, COOK ROW, CHURCH STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 9am – 5pm

9.30am – 5.30pm Minster Flower Festival with occasional musical entertainment, free entry, donations welcome

9.30am – 5.30pm Display of prize-winning portraits of the Queen from local first school children in The Minster

10am – 4pm Fun family day - A variety of entertainments and charity stalls throughout the Town, including climbing wall, ceramics painting, face painting, sweet stall, bouncy castle;

10am – 4pm Military vehicle and classic cars on show on the High Street.

10.30am Junior Town Crier Competition Round 1 (5-9 years), led by The Mayor’s Town Crier, Chris Brown on The Minster Green

11.30am – 2pm Drop-in Street Party on the Town Square, with food and refreshments from local businesses.

12 noon First Schools’ Portrait Competition prize presentation on The Minster Green

1pm ‘Join’ with the Militia on The Minster Green – dress up and join the march

3pm Junior Town Crier Competition Round 2 (10-13 years), led by The Mayor’s Town Crier, Chris Brown on The Minster Green

There will be the opportunity to sign the Big Jubilee Thank You letters in the Minster. These signed letters will be sent to The Queen following this weekend.

This programme of events has been made possible by the following organisations:

East Dorset District Council, Wimborne Minster Town Council, Wimborne Minster & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce, Wimborne Business Improvement District and The Big Lottery.

Wimborne Folk Festival 8th-10th June 2012

A weekend of the very best in Traditional English and Celtic music, song and dance in and around Wimborne Minster. Please see http://www.wimbornefolkfestival.co.uk/ for more information.

Wimborne Through the Ages 23^rd & 24^th June 2012

Wimborne Through the Ages celebrates historical periods of the town, including a large roman re-enactment group throughout the town, Wimborne’s Militia, Ancient Technology Centre, Priest’s House Museum, Walford Mill Crafts, East Dorset Heritage Trust at Allendale House and Wimborne Model Town. This is a Wimborne BID Initiative.