Time to plan your summer street parties
- Residents are being offered four weekends to hold community summer street parties with no road closure fees
- Opportunity to come together to mark 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day
Communities across Reading are being invited to host street parties this summer as part of The Big Lunch 2025.
Reading residents are being offered the choice of four weekends when they can apply to close their road to stage a party without paying the usual closure fee.
Neighbours are being encouraged to come together to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, both of which are being commemorated this year.
The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours and communities to enjoy a few hours of friendship, food and fun. The Council is offering the following weekends where residents can apply for permission to close their road for a street party, without paying any fees.
- 7-8 June (The Big Lunch weekend)
- 28-29 June (28 June: Armed Forces Day)
- 5-6 July
- 12-13 July
Permission will normally be given for a road closure subject to it not affecting a main through-route or public transport route. Applicants will need to consult with neighbours and take any concerns into account. They will also be responsible for ensuring emergency services can access a road if required.
Applications to host a street party can be made at: https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/events/street-parties/. The deadline for applications is Monday 21 April.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“Communities have been staging street parties across Reading for a number of years as part of the Big Lunch initiative.
“The Council is once again encouraging neighbours to get-together by waiving the road closure fee which would normally be charged.
“Residents have a choice of four weekends to take advantage of this offer to ensure as many people as possible have an opportunity to take part.
“This year is the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day so it would be a fantastic opportunity to bring neighbours together, perhaps to mark Armed Forces Day on 28 June, and pay tribute to all those who have served and those who continue to serve.”
Inspiration and planning support for organising street parties can be found at The Big Lunch website at: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch and The Street Party website at: https://www.streetparty.org.uk/.
ENDS