Thousands of people are expected to attend a series of showpiece events to watch and celebrate the coronation of Kings Charles III next month.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is providing funding for several giant screenings and other events in towns and cities across the region so people can come together to watch the historic occasion on Saturday 6 May.

The people of the West Midlands will be represented at the coronation in London’s Westminster Abbey by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, who has received and accepted an invitation to attend.

Screens showing the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will be set up in:

• Centenary Square, Birmingham
• Broadgate, Coventry
• Himley Hall, Dudley
• Sandwell Valley Showground, West Bromwich
• The Core, Solihull town centre

In addition, the WMCA funding, part of more than £1 million made being available by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will help City of Wolverhampton Council support a city centre event and give a coronation theme to an arts festival taking place on the day.

It will also help Walsall Council enable local celebrations, including street parties, to be staged and to support screenings by community groups. Claire Dhami, the WMCA’s head of systems change and inclusion, said:

“The coronation will be an historic moment and a wonderful showpiece of British pageantry and tradition. So, it’s great to see these big public events taking place. They will bring thousands of people together and help make the coronation an even more memorable occasion.

“I’m also really proud there are so many community members from the West Midlands attending the Royal Garden Parties to commemorate the coronation in line with this year’s themes of celebrating young adults, community, diversity and sustainability.

“But it’s not just about big screenings, or trips to Buckingham palace. Many of our town and city centre events will offer a real party vibe with a wide variety of attractions for all the family including street entertainment, food and music.”

The free event in Birmingham’s Centenary Square will take place on Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May and feature a large screen and stage featuring a diverse range of music and dance throughout both days. There will also be a range of food and drink outlets and small children’s rides. The King’s Coronation will be shown on the large screen and it will also show the concert from Windsor Castle on the Sunday.

Dudley Council’s large screening at Himley Hall broadcasting the coronation will be a ‘picnic in the park’ style event and Sandwell Council is planning a live, free to access screening at Sandwell Valley Showground, West Bromwich.

Hundreds more local, community events including ‘Big Lunches’ and street parties will also take place across the region.

More details about what is being staged across the West Midlands and how people can join the celebrations are available at wmca.org.uk.