The procession celebrating the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign stretches for half a mile down Trafalgar Street in Nelson in the early afternoon of 22 June 1887. The procession had been led by the mayor and councillors, followed by companies of volunteer troops (visible in this photo), friendly societies and school pupils. The procession had initially paraded down the street to the cathedral steps, and in this photograph they appear to be returning. At the cathedral steps a specially composed jubilee ode was read, and commemorative medals were presented to 3,000 school children. The procession eventually made its way to the newly named Queen's Gardens, where the mayor turned the first sod for the amenity which would permanently commemorate Queen Victoria. That evening the streets were brightly illuminated with decorations.