Regal crowd of 100 kick off Magna Carta celebrations in Lincoln

Lincoln city centre was alive with festive excitement on the morning of Thursday, June 11 as royal scenes and colourful barons welcomed the arrival of the Great Magna Carta Weekend.

Around 100 people from city centre businesses donned their crowns to mark the incoming boom of events for tourists and residents alike, marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta.

Over 2,000 crowns will be given away by shop staff in the city centre, and some have even gone one step further by making their own crowns and diving into Medieval wardrobes.

Boots Lincoln High Street store Manager Dawn Nolan said: “Our staff are really looking forward to it.”

Lincoln BIG is organising the action-packed, family weekend on behalf of the Lincoln Cultural and Arts Partnership.

Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “Our events-packed programme is the culmination of more than two years’ work and it looks set to be a fabulous weekend for the city.

“From the castle to St Marks, we’ve got a fantastic range of things going on – from street entertainment and busking through to food stalls, a colourful carnival and fireworks.

“Our Lincoln Ambassadors will also be out and about, carrying maps which highlight where events are happening, but it won’t be hard to find something going on almost everywhere you go!”

What’s on during Magna Carta Weekend

The gold crowns are just one of the highlights of the weekend, which runs from June 11 until June 15.

Hundreds of performers – who are taking part in 40 events right across the city centre – are playing a key role in making it happen.

Find out more about some of the highlights to look out for here.

The weekend will also see the launch of the exciting Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail, which will feature 25, individually-decorated, vibrant sculptures who will be placed around the city centre.

Celebrate with a ‘royal selfie’ #greatweekend.

People are being encouraged to try their own crowns on for size and spread the word on social media with a ‘royal selfie’, using #greatweekend and #LincolnBarons.

For those wishing to join the action on Twitter, signing up to the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Thunderclap campaign will see their voice accompany hundreds of others, at the same time.

Budding royals should also look out for a royal throne being carried through the streets of Lincoln city centre on Saturday, June 13 as part of the Magna Carta Weekend.