Diamond Jubilee street parties

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will take place over an extended weekend from the 2nd to the 5th of June 2012. Holding a street party for such a national occasion has a long tradition which started in 1919 and which 1 million joined in for last year's royal wedding.

Even if not everyone in your street is interested in the Jubilee a street party is a rare chance to meet the neighbours and to play with the kids together in a traffic-free street for a change. Lots of ideas for activities and help with closing the road and insurance are explained in our Guide for residents.

Over the Jubilee weekend you may want to hold your street party on the Saturday or on the Sunday when you can watch the Thames River Pageant on TV. As it is a half term week you may decide, for those who do not go away, to hold a smaller StreetMeet. This is less formal and doesn't require closing the road. Hold it on a pavement, at the end of a cul de sac, driveway or at a park. Then you can then hold a proper street party and close your road on the 2nd or 3rd weekend in September when everyone is back from holidays.

No street party is complete without some delicious food! Take a look at our street party food ideas.

Also, you may want to try out our SwapShop to encourage exchanges amongst neighbours.

Make sure you bring out all memories of the 1953 Coronation from older people. Take a look at this old amateur film of a Coronation street party from that date.

Ask us for our free Jubilee Street Quiz to get people chatting.

You could give away some commemorative jubilee gifts as prizes for the quiz?

Ask Streets Alive for help with...anything! We can also help with planning community projects for this national event.

To buy Jubilee bunting, medals, mugs etc. see diamondjubilee.uk.com