Armed Forces Week returns for 2018

Armed Forces Week is a go

Armed Forces Week returns for 2018
Blackpool’s Armed Forces Week is back with a celebratory and heart-warming line-up of events and entertainment to honour the nation’s military personnel.

Armed Forces Week is Blackpool’s opportunity to say thank you to our heroes. The annual event has been celebrated in Blackpool since 2006, and is now an integral fixture in the resort’s events calendar.

From 25 June – 1 July, the resort unites in welcoming serving military personnel, veterans and cadets, with a wide range of activities designed for them and their families, as well as the many thousands of people visiting the resort.

Councillor Chris Ryan and Armed Forces Champion said ‘Armed Forces Week is back for 2018 and will be as fantastic as ever. It promises to be a real treat for visitors, local people, veterans and service personnel alike and I hope that people will flock to Blackpool to salute and honour our veterans and service personnel.’

Before the week of activity starts on the 25^th June, Dance for Victory, a gala dance at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom in aid of Help for Heroes, will take place on Saturday 23 June.  This will be a spectacular night of music and dance through the last century to celebrate 100 years since the end of WWI and also 100 years of the RAF.

25 June will see the official Armed Forces Week flag raised to signal the official commencement of festivities at Blackpool Town Hall, ahead of an evening of entertainment entitled “Music for Heroes” at the Opera House headlined by Band of the Kings Division and featuring the Irish Guard Singers.

Houndshill Shopping Centre will be supporting Armed Forces Week all week, displaying military weapons and equipment displays from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. There will be a Careers information Day on 26 June, and there will be free war-time musical entertainment including performances from the Irish Guards Singers on 30 June. Fantastic – entertainment whilst you shop!

The hugely popular “Going to the Flicks” event returns to Blackpool 26-28 June.  Local schoolchildren take part in the project to see a specially commissioned education film to show what happened in Blackpool during WWI and what it was like for children during WWII by showcasing archive video footage and images.  Meanwhile, The Blackpool Tower features an afternoon tea dance on 27 June.

Coral Island has chosen to once again say thank you to our Armed Forces by inviting them for a free meal. On 28 June, Coral Island will play host, offering veterans and their families this generous invitation to dine out and enjoy a free carvery.

On 29 June, the Service of Dedication at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum will take place to commemorate our Armed Forces and veterans while the evening sees what many veterans consider the highlight of the week, the Grand Gala Dinner.

Armed Forces Day takes place on 30 June, with a full day of entertainment across the town centre and Blackpool Promenade.A number of vintage and modern day military vehicles will form a static display along the Promenade, as well as the famous replica Spitfire. There will also be decommissioned military items for all to view and fun and games for all the family.

The Armed Forces Day Military Concert takes place in the evening at the Norbreck Castle Hotel featuring the Band & Corps of Drums of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire).

The week ends with the Sunday morning Cenotaph service and parade followed by the Blackpool Taxi Pull, an annual event celebrating ten years, which sees local cabbies show off their strength to raise money for Armed Forces charities.

It is hoped the public will once again turn out in their droves for the parade and show their support for our brave soldiers and military personnel both past and present.

The full programme for Armed Forces Week, and more details about individual events, news  and tickets, go to www.visitblackpool.com/armedforces