Thousands gather across the weekend at the Eden Project to celebrate historic Coronation, community and quiche

A giant screen, a giant quiche and a giant light display make for a momentous Coronation weekend (May 6–8) at the Eden Project, home of the Coronation Big Lunch.

 Saturday (May 6) marked the day of the historic Coronation ceremony of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen.

Visitors came together for the occasion in crowns and princess dresses, many adorned in red, white and blue, setting up camp in the Arena on picnic blankets and deck chairs while watching the iconic event live on a big screen.

Across the weekend, the Coronation themes of community, youth, sustainability and diversity were woven throughout, with inspiring speakers, engaging activities, and live music, creating an electric celebratory atmosphere.

Local charities hosted 15 Minutes for the Future drop-in activities, teaching visitors how to knit for peace, create eco-restorative sea wall tiles and repair old electronics to be fixed and donated as gifts.

Today (Sunday May 7) Ade Adepitan MBE, a Paralympic medallist, presenter, and author, spoke in the Mediterranean Biome's Citrus Grove about connecting with nature and each other, inclusivity, and climate change.

Chef and food educator Tom Hunt, author of Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet, shared his expertise on food sustainability, and YES (Youth Environmental Service) hosted a panel that advocated for youth-led change.

The showstopper of today saw a giant Coronation quiche, fit for a King or Queen, unveiled to a special Coronation Big Lunch, hosted by award-winning chef Tom Hunt and Eden’s Chief Activation Officer, Si Bellamy. The spinach, broad bean, tarragon and cheddar recipe is the official Coronation dish, chosen by The King.

Measuring 32 inches in diameter and serving up to 200, Eden’s giant Coronation quiche was Created by Eden’s chefs, taking 65 free-range Cornish eggs to make and including Eden-grown tarragon and locally-sourced vegetables. 

Peter Stewart, Eden's Chief Purpose Officer, said: "The Coronation weekend is a hugely significant event for the Eden Project and the nation, and we are honoured to have hosted it.

“As the home of The Big Lunch, we are immensely proud that Her Majesty The Queen has been patron of our annual event since 2013.  Bringing people together to share such experiences is crucial to building stronger, more resilient communities, and we're proud to have done just that.

“The smallest of friendly interactions can have a profound impact on wellbeing, and together communities can make real positive change. Our Big Lunch organisers have raised over £70 million for good causes since 2015 and we hope coming together this weekend, over food and fun, will inspire people that together we can do wonderful things.”

This evening (Sunday) is due to see Eden’s world-famous Biomes illuminated for a Lighting up the Nation event in which 10 iconic landmarks across the UK will put on a grand light display to coincide with the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle while being broadcast live to the nation.

The Biomes are set to be lit up in a magical choreographed display, while a drone show will light up the sky above an audience of specially-invited local volunteers, including Big Lunch organisers – a thank you for the vital work they do to support and bring their communities together.

To cap off the bank holiday weekend, a celebration of the volunteering community for The Big Help Out will be held tomorrow (Monday May 9), centred around the themes of youth, diversity, sustainability, and community, with thought-provoking talks, performances and film screenings by St Austell Foodbank, youth dance group TR14ers, Black Voices Cornwall and Cornwall Climate Care.

The Eden Project is the home of The Big Lunch, an annual community celebration that brings together neighbours and communities nationwide in a show of community friendship every year since 2009, thanks to the Eden Project and made possible by The National Lottery. It is supported by PG tips, Iceland and The Food Warehouse, the Pears Foundation and The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust.

The Eden Project hopes to continue to inspire people to come together, make connections, and create positive change in the world. To learn more about the Eden Project and future events, visit www.edenproject.com.