HUNDREDS of people dared to venture out on what could have been a cold and wet May day in a show of community spirit.
Scores of events took place on Sunday, May 7 to celebrate on the day after the Coronation of King Charles III.
Despite a miserable day on the actual Coronation day, the clouds parted and the sun even came out on the Sunday to make community events like the one held on Swanmore Recreation Ground even more special.
Hundreds of people pitched up at the rec in the village for its Big Picnic.
The event saw a whole host of activities and fun, with an incredibly popular burger stall from the Meon Valley Lions Club selling out within a couple of hours.
The children had plenty of fun with free games such as miniature golf and Connect 4, balloon modelling, glitter tattoos and bowling.
There was also a bouncy castle assault course, slide and other fairground rides, including a candy floss stall.
A beer tent, put on by the Rising Sun, proved popular, as did the ice cream van.
Music and entertainment were put on, deckchairs were provided and the pavilion was open to visitors with a display of the village's history.
Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond stopped by to see the festivities in full swing.
She said: "I have been to events in Shedfield, Bishop's Waltham and Swanmore today and they have all been amazing. The turnout has been great. It has been lovely to see everyone out and enjoying themselves."
Central Meon Valley ward councillor Frank Pearson said: "We have been blessed with some good weather. Events like this are fantastic, fantastic for the village and the community."
Jon Woodman, chair of Swanmore Parish Council, said he was proud to see the village coming together.
He said: "It is great to see so many people here enjoying themselves on what has turned out to be a beautiful sunny afternoon."
Other villages nearby also held events, with Shedfield hosting a party on its rec on Sunday and Bishop's Waltham hosting a big lunch in the grounds of the Palace with live music and entertainment, also on Sunday.
Other villages were not so lucky and had chosen to hold their celebration on Saturday.
An event in Wickham's Square, which saw the Square closed to traffic and parking for the day on Saturday, and a big screen put up with live entertainment on a stage, was a washout, with only the hardy turning out to watch the event - or take home some of the leftover beer at the end of the day.
Click our top image to see photos from the day.
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