A street market featuring fare from right across the Commonwealth, a special BBC 'Music Live' event and a unique international rugby league festival were unveiled today as part of City of York Council's plans to help people in the city celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

With an emphasis on providing something for everybody to help celebrate the Queen's 50-year reign, the council unveiled its package of events today - just as the Queen was about to launch her Commonwealth Games Baton Relay from Buckingham Palace.

Many of the York events will take place around the main national celebration period over the extended bank holiday period in June.

Members of the team of baton runners chosen to run the York leg of the Baton Relay on July 5 and 6 today joined Lord Mayor of York Councillor Irene Waudby, executive member for leisure and heritage Councillor Alan Jones and a group of cheerleaders from All Saints RC School to unveil the council's programme at Parliament Street.

Council staff handed out dozens of leaflets to promote the programme and 600 patriotic blue, red and white balloons were unleashed bearing news of the programme and directions to a website giving more information on the events (www.york.gov.uk/whatsnew).

The full programme has yet to be finalised and the council is keen to encourage residents to celebrate with friends and family as well as join in the council-backed activities if they wish. However, the programme already includes:

a special Jubilee BBC 'Music Live' day hosted by BBC Radio York at Parliament Street on June 3 and complementing the city's third BBC Music Live event which will be taking place between May 24 and 26. The line-ups and venues will be announced in April a unique international rugby league, nine-a-side, Fairfax Cup event hosted by Heworth Rugby League Club on Monday, June 3 featuring teams from across Europe as well as the specially-formed invitation team of local players the Ironsides a Commonwealth Market at Parliament Street on Monday and Tuesday June 3 and 4 building on the council's popular and successful programme of themed market events a series of fringe events over the weekend which has yet to be finalised a city centre parade on June 3 ending with a Royal Salute in Museum Gardens and a music in the park programme Knavesmire theme park complete with Europe's biggest big wheel a Macmillan Cancer Relief concert at York Minster in celebration of the Jubilee on June 1 with the Yorkshire Bach Choir and Northern Sinfonia performing Haydn's Creation. Tickets are available from Theatre Royal, York. a York parks picnic programme - to allow families to celebrate the event without having to organise street parties the Jubilee Commonwealth Games baton relay passing through York on July 5 and July 6 with a party atmosphere in the city

Councillor Jones said today, "Our role is very much about helping to facilitate rather than run the celebrations and we hope that the programme of events we are supporting offers something for everyone."

Lord Mayor Councillor Waudby said, "I am delighted to be involved in the launch of these events to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

"I hope that other local celebrations will join in with these core events to provide a memorable time for as many York residents and visitors as possible" Baton relay runners Sharrona Benton, Juliette Roberts, Jean Snelling and 11-year-old Huntington School student Victoria Myers joined the Lord Mayor and Councillor Jones to release the balloons.

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