The 2019 Cowes Big Lunch: A Great Community Celebration
The Cowes Big Lunch is a free community celebration and is taking place for the sixth consecutive year in Northwood Park on the afternoon of Sunday, 2nd June.
Residents of Cowes and surrounding districts are invited to join together again to celebrate the strength of our community spirit with a giant Community Picnic in Northwood Park and on the lawns of Northwood House with lots of free entertainment and fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Organised and sponsored by a number of well-known organisations including the Cowes Town Council, The Island Sailing Club, Northwood House Charitable Trust and The Royal Yacht Squadron this event has seen over 2,500 people attend in previous years and aims to attract even more in 2019. This year’s event has also received a contribution from Waitrose to help fund the day’s activities and entertainment.
The event will start with a marching band parade into Northwood Park at 11.45am then at midday, the picnics and celebrations begin with a full programme of live music throughout the afternoon led by the 30-piece Bob Howarth Big Band. Other performers including the girls from Company B who will be entertaining the crowds with their 1940’s style of swing, along with popular local duo Jody & Sam.
Visitors from across the Island as well as Cowes are welcome to come along with friends and family to enjoy a real fun family day in Northwood Park. Prizes will be awarded for the party of picnickers who have made the most effort by dressing up and creating the best-looking spread.
A family fun arena hosted by popular local magician David Randini will be a focus during the celebration, featuring children’s races and traditional competitions for everyone to join in. A children’s craft tent will keep the young ones occupied during the afternoon. The fun dog show will be a great spectator event starting at 2.00pm, with registration for entries starting from 1pm at the arena. A mid-afternoon falconry display will also entertain the crowds.
A number of stalls and exhibitors will be in attendance on the Northwood House lawns from local charities and businesses, giving the event a village fete-style ambience. Chefs from the Island Sailing Club will be treating visitors to their famous Big Lunch BBQ, with the popular Northwood House Tearoom open serving tea and cakes on the lawn alongside a fully licensed Pimm’s bar.
The Cowes Big Lunch Bake Off, is another fun competition and visitors are encouraged to enter. Enthusiastic home bakers can enter one of the three categories and bring their creations in on the day for official judging. Adults classes are either a classic Victoria sponge or summer quiche, whilst children can enter a plate of decorated biscuits in a nautical theme. Entries can be viewed in the Northwood House Ballroom with judging a 2pm. Prizes include £30 dinner vouchers for the Coast Bar and The Harbour Kitchen.
For more details about the event go to www.cowesbiglunch.org
The Cowes Big Lunch is part of the larger national Big Lunch celebration that happens annually in June co-ordinated by the Eden Project, aiming to bring communities together across the UK. The Cowes event has a charitable cause, with money being collected on the day for a number of local charities and good causes.
For further information on the Big Lunch and to get involved, please get in touch with Darren Cool, Cowes Big Lunch Committee on 01983 293642 or email events@northwoodhouse.org .