ONE of the biggest events in Haslemere this year will be the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, which will be marked by a carnival, concert and huge tea party in the High Street – expected to be attended by up to 4,000 people.

The Haslemere Festival organisation, supported by the Haslemere branch of the Royal Society of St George, will be marking Her Majesty’s birthday in style on Saturday, April 23 – which is also St George’s Day and Shakespeare’s birthday.

The historic occasion, honouring Britain’s longest-serving monarch, will be celebrated by people of all ages with a grand carnival procession from Lion Green to the centre of Haslemere followed by a giant town tea party in the High Street.

Celebrations begin with a free concert on Friday, April 22 – The Queen’s actual birthday is on Thursday – at St Christopher’s Church, with the Haslemere Festival Chorus and readings by ex-ITN journalist Michael Nicholson .

It will reflect 90 years of history and the monarch’s part in it. Next Saturday, the carnival procession of floats and pedestrians, vintage cars from each decade, and fancy dress walkers, will be divided into sections to represent the nine decades of the Queen’s life.

It will assemble on Lion Green at 1pm, including the St George’s float, complete with dragon, maiden and St George. The procession will be judged by Surrey’s Lord Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux, and then led off by Horndean Marching Band and everyone will proceed to the High Street.

The organisers hope some of the cars and floats will feature a Queen Elizabeth ‘lookalike’ of the appropriate age for their chosen decade.

On arrival, a traditional cream tea will be served from five serving stations in the High Street, each again representing a decade of the Queen’s reign.

There will also be tables for hire for £50, sponsored by local businesses and street associations – but the public will need to bring their own chairs.

To enter the procession call Don Stacey on 01428 644423 or email [email protected] for more information about the events.