Veterans and serving military personnel of past, present and future are celebrated during Blackpool Armed Forces Week from 24-30 June 2024. Everyone can enjoy a wide range of activities and events.
Blackpool Armed Forces Week
This annual celebration has been running in Blackpool since 2006 and is a permanent fixture in the resort’s events calendar.
This year, Armed Forces Day is 29 June 2024
To mark the national event, the whole resort will come together for a week of celebration. This special week will welcome serving military personnel, veterans and cadets, with a wide range of activities. Not just for them but also their families, and the many thousands of people visiting Blackpool.
Show your support and respect for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community.
The resort unites in welcoming serving military personnel, veterans and cadets, with a wide range of activities targeted at them and their families as well as the many thousands of people visiting the resort.
It’s an uplifting programme of events and entertainment to honour the nation’s military personnel of the past, present and future.
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Did you know? That Blackpool Comrades Club was one of the forerunners of the British Legion?
Blackpool Armed Forces Week 2024
Blackpool will come together to welcome serving military personnel, veterans and cadets, with a range of activities designed for them and their families, as well as the many people visiting the resort.
Armed Forces Week Flag Raising
Monday 24 June 2024 at Blackpool Town Hall, Talbot Square, Blackpool
Blackpool Armed forces week officially begins with the raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag above the Town Hall.
Coral Island Armed Forces Week
Thursday 27 June 2024 at The Buccaneer, Coral Island
Booking is required, and a fully-refundable deposit of £5 to secure a place call 01253 922182
Coral Island will be putting on its annual event for veterans from the UK’s Armed Forces on Thursday 27 June, with a complimentary two-course carvery, The Buccaneer’s a full three-meat carvery, and a seasonal dessert, and a drink upon arrival.
It’s expected to be a popular event, so booking is required, and a fully-refundable deposit of £5 to secure a place, which can be done by calling 01253 922182. Deposits will be returned on the day. We hope that you will all come and join us in showing support to our brave servicemen and women this June and that our invited Armed Forces personnel and veterans enjoy our complimentary hospitality as a token of our gratitude for the work they have done for the UK.
Fylde Memorial Arboretum
Friday 28 June 2024 from 11:00 – 12:30 at Millennium Grove, Moor Park Avenue, Blackpool, FY2 0LY
Founded by Don Aiken, a D-Day Veteran and located in the fields next to Moor park school, the Fylde Memorial Arboretum stands as an area of remembrance that provides the service associations, and the people of Blackpool and the Fylde, a place of peace and beauty in which to remember their fallen comrades and loved ones. As part of Blackpool Armed Forces week, the Fylde Ex-Service Liaison Committee will host a service of dedication at the centre of the Memorial Arboretum’s Glade area.
Spitfire Visitor Centre Hangar Open Day
Saturday 29 June 2024 from 10:00–16:00 at Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre, Blackpool Airport, Squires Gate Lane, FY4 2QY
Tickets: FREE for serving members of the UK Armed Forces and Veterans and their family members upon production of ID such as MOD 90, Veterans badge etc. (Max 4 per party). All other tickets are £10.00 Adults, Children 6-16 £5.00, age 5 and under Free.
Join us this Armed Forces Day for a range of activities and displays taking place at the Spitfire Visitor Centre to commemorate the vital role that the UK Armed Forces have played in the past, are currently taking part in and their potential roles in the future. The Spitfire Visitor Centre this year focuses on the Royal Air Force in World War Two and the vital part played by Groundcrews and Aircrews serving at RAF Squires Gate.
The team of volunteers will bring to life the realities of wartime Blackpool and the sacrifices made by the Blackpool’s residents, in supporting the War effort, in the local Aircraft factories and across the resort. Additional Charges apply to Cockpit Access photos and virtual reality experiences.
Conditions: NO PETS ALLOWED, NO VIDEO RECORDERS/Filming & NO BACK PACKS or similar items permitted.
Free Car Parking on site and Disabled facilities in H42.
Armed Forces Garden Party
Saturday 29 June 2024 from 13:00 at Marton Institute, Oxford Square
The Marton Institute proudly hosts an Armed Forces Garden Party on National Armed Forces Day. Including: Outdoor bar, drinks offers for service personnel, liver entertainment, bouncy castle and kids entertainment. Free entry for all!
Sunday Morning Service & Parade
Sunday 30 June 2024. Assemble from 10:30 Service 11:00 Parade approx 11:30 at Blackpool Cenotaph/Promenade
Blackpool comes together to honour and unite Britain’s Armed Forces in an emotional and fitting tribute to the Armed Forces Past, Present and Future. Attending the service will be veteran’s associations, cadets, serving military as well as their friends, families and associates. Everyone is welcome to the service of appreciation that takes place within the grounds of Blackpool grade II listed War Memorial.
Following the service, Blackpool invites members of the Armed Forces, veterans and cadets to join in the military parade. Friends, family and members of the general public are invited to line the route, cheer and wave their Union Flags. Those wanting to lay wreaths may do so after the service.
Other Discounts
- 20% discount at The Backlot Diner (T&Cs apply).
- Merlin Blackpool are offering tickets for £10 for personnel (T&Cs apply).
Blackpool Football Club Community
Blackpool FC Community Trust are proud to host a range of Armed Forces events throughout the year.
- Veterans Breakfast Club. Every first Tuesday of the month, 9am–10:45am @TheGrange, Bathurst Avenue, FY3 7RW
- Forces Football. Thursdays, 6pm-7.30pm at Aspire Sports Hub, FY3 7JH
- Gardening Club. First Tuesday of the month (April – November), 11.30am- 12.30pm at Fylde Memorial Arboretum, FY2 0LZ
- NAAFI Break. Wednesdays, 10:30am – 12pm at The Corner Flag, Bloomfield Road
- Veterans Walk & Talk. Thursdays, 1:30pm – 3:30pm at Blackpool Cricket Club, FY3 9EQ
- For more information and details, please click here.
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We Need Your Help
We Need Your Help
This page hasn’t had any updates in months. Armed Forces Week is just over a week away so can anyone inform us as to what events are happening in 2021??
We haven’t received any updates from the organisers. In the present circumstances one would assume that there won’t be any large events for the public to attend.
D Day
On 6th of June 1944
In the early hours so they say,
156,000 troops
Assembled on beach that day.
Nine allied Nations gathered
To fight to liberate,
Europe from Hitler’s Germany
But thousands met their fate.
From up there on the clifftops
German troops were waiting,
To rain hell fire on Allied troops
There was no debating.
23,000 paratroopers
Over 7,000 ships too,
This was “Operation Overlord”
This information all true.
By Daylight Allied forces
Were in control it’s said,
Nearly 10,000 casualties
And over 4,000 dead.
Within the next five days
Allies brought some more,
326,000 troops
Landed on Normandy shore.
54,000 vehicles
From Nine allied Nations,
104,000 tons of supplies
For these military operations.
Remember these brave souls every year
On 6th of June okay,
Because of them we’re all free
Liberation was D Day.
By
William Mckechnie
where is the variety show in the opera hose theatre or in the ballroom and is it on the monday as before