Channel Islanders celebrate 80 years of Liberation with services, live music and military displays
As the Channel Islands mark 80 years since the end of German Occupation, thousands are expected to join in celebrations and services across both Bailiwicks.
Read below to see all the events taking place across the long weekend in Guernsey and Jersey.
Guernsey
Islanders in Guernsey can look forward to a jam-packed day of celebrations - with services, military parades, activities, and live music taking place across the island.
Guernsey will also host HRH The Princess Royal, who will be meeting islanders and attending a variety of events throughout the course of the day.
For those hoping to hop between parishes to make the most of what the whole island has to offer, a free Liberation Day bus service will be provided.
Friday 9 May
8:59am: Sounding the Siren
The day will begin with the traditional siren being sounded from Victoria Tower, signalling the start of a two-minute silence.
10am, L'Eree: People's Service of Thanksgiving
The People's Service of Thanksgiving will take place at L'Eree in a Tea Tent set up along the common.
The service will be followed by a 1940s sing-along, a performance by the Biberach Youth Orchestra, and a People's Parade.
The beach will then play host to a range of activities and performances, including beach games and kayaking, food and drinks stalls, occupation talks and stories, and a meat draw.
A full programme of live music is also scheduled, and celebrations will conclude with a performance from headliners Underdog at 9:30pm.
10:25am, War Memorial: Wreath Laying
The Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, will lay a wreath at the war memorial.
10:40am, Town Seafront: Military Parade Begins
Over 100 military personnel from all three branches of the Armed Forces are set to visit the island this year.
Contingents HMS DARING, Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, and 201 Squadron all hold affiliations with Guernsey.
The visiting squadrons will be joined by local veterans, the Royal Marines Band Scotland, a contingent of the Gurkhas, the Chelsea Pensioners, the Island Cadet Guard, and young Combined Cadet Forces.
The parade will march along an extended route this year, heading out to The Slaughterhouse before making its way back to the Town Church.
12pm, Town Church: Liberation Service
Led by the Dean of Guernsey (the Very Reverend Tim Barker) alongside the Rector of the Town Church (the Reverend Penny Graysmith), the preacher at this year's Liberation service will be the Bishop of Salisbury.
Seating within the church will be available on a first-come, first-served basis - but the service will also be livestreamed in the tea tent and on a big screen at L'Eree.
12pm, Town Seafront: Celebration Activities
Activities will take place across St Peter Port throughout the course of the day.
Highlights include a vintage fun fair on the Crown Pier, military displays across Albert Pier, a tea tent and heritage area at The Albany, and live music and activities in Castle Cornet.
A music stage in North Beach will soundtrack the day - featuring 'Singalong through the decades' at 1:45pm; the Royal Marines Scotland Big Band at 5pm; and the D-Day Darlings at 6:30pm.
The Last of the Light Brigade will round off the night at 9:30pm after the fireworks.
1pm, Castle Cornet: 21 Gun Salute
The 21 Gun Salute will be fired from the castle at 1pm by the Guernsey Veterans.
2pm, La Vaugrat Campsite: Liberation Cavalcade
Over 250 military vehicles will be joined by classic cars, tractors, parish and charity floats, local musicians, and community groups.
The military cavalcade will proceed from La Vaugrat Campsite in St Sampsons at 2pm, be joined by floats and pedestrians as they journey along the north coast, and end at the Weighbridge at 3pm.
3:30pm, L'Eree: Falcons Parachute Display Team
The RAF Falcons - the only professional military parachute display team in the UK - will carry out a parachute drop and display, landing on L'Eree beach at 3pm.
Flypasts by World War Two aircraft will also take place throughout the course of the day.
Of particular note is the Hurricane and Harvard aircrafts, which will accompany the iconic 1944 US 'Ready for Duty' aircraft to complete two laps of the island during the military cavalcade at around 2pm.
5pm, Albert Pier: Liberation Re-enactment
At 5pm, the Guernsey Military History Company has organised a dramatic re-enactment of the moment Guernsey was freed from occupation by the liberating forces.
It will feature HMS Medusa and Rummy III (HMS Flycatcher), who will recreate the moment that Force 135 landed on the island 80 years ago and islanders once again found themselves free.
9pm, North Beach: Drone Show
For the first time, islanders in Guernsey will be treated to a drone light display.
150 drones will illuminate the skies above St Peter Port in a 10-minute choreographed display telling the story of the Occupation and Liberation, accompanied by a classical soundtrack.
9:15pm, La Vallette: Fireworks
The highly anticipated annual fireworks display will round off the day's festivities.
Saturday 10 May
11:30am, The Last Post: St Andrew's Parish Celebrations
St Andrew's Parish will base themselves at the Last Post for a joyful day of celebrations on Saturday.
Their plans include a barbecue and hog roast, bouncy castles, and live music.
2pm, The Queens Hotel: St Martin's Parish Celebrations
St Martin's Parish will take over the Queens Hotel for an afternoon of activities and celebrations, kicking off at 2pm.
Their plans include a free hog roast, children's and magic shows, and live music.
Jersey
Islanders in Jersey can look forward to an equally busy day of reflection and celebration, commemorating 80 years of freedom.
The Liberation Day schedule features a military parade, church services, family activities, and live music.
As in Guernsey, events will continue to take place into the weekend, with tea parties and sporting events taking place across the parishes, alongside bunker openings and occupation talks.
A Liberation music festival will be running from 9 to 18 May, with performances across the island reflecting on the theme of escape and joy through music.
A festival featuring children's activities, music, and food will also be hosted at Parade Gardens over the course of the weekend.
7:30am, Town Hall: Liberation Day Breakfast
The day will kick off with the annual Liberation Day breakfast, which brings together islanders who remember the Occupation for a morning of reflection and reunions.
Those who were living in Jersey during the Occupation, overseas service personnel, internees, and evacuees are all invited to the breakfast buffet.
8am, West Park: JSAC Run for Freedom
A commemorative 5km race to the Bel Royal and back has been organised by the Jersey Spartans Athletic Club.
10am, Broad Street: Military Parade Begins
Accompanied by the Band of the Island of Jersey, the parade will feature military contingents from all three branches of the Armed Forces - alongside Veterans, Officer Cadets, the Combined Cadet Forces, the Jersey Field Squadron, and Scouts and Guides.
The BRNC Officer Cadets will also be joined by the German Naval Academy Officer Cadets - the first time the island has ever integrated German forces into their Liberation Day celebrations, a poignant sign of friendship and solidarity.
The parade will march from Broad Street to Liberation Square in time for the Service of Thanksgiving.
11am, Liberation Square: Special States Assembly Sitting
The annual special States Assembly sitting will take place in Liberation Square this year.
It will feature an address from the island's Bailiff, Sir Timothy le Cocq, and Connetable Karen Shenton-Stone.
11:20am, Liberation Square: Service of Thanksgiving
The service will begin with an address by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor on behalf of His Majesty the King, and then be led by the Dean of Jersey (the Very Reverend Mike Keirle).
It will immediately be followed by a re-enactment of the moment Jersey was liberated, with Naval Officers recreating the arrival of Force 135 into Liberation Square and raising the flag on the balcony of the Pomme D'Or Hotel.
The service will also feature a performance of Beautiful Jersey and the National Anthem.
12pm, Liberation Square: March Past and Motorcade
To conclude the morning's Service of Thanksgiving, a march past of uniformed organisations will take place, followed by a motorcade of vintage vehicles from the Jersey Old Motor Club and the Jersey Military Vehicle Group.
The motorcade will then head east out of town, along the Coast Road to Gorey, and then through the northern parishes of St Martin, Trinity, and St John - ending in the car park opposite La Fontaines Tavern in St John.
12:45pm, Weighbridge Place: Celebration Activities
Jersey's Liberation Day party will kick off at 12:45pm, with all islanders invited to a free day of live music, dancing, and local food.
Headline moments will include several performances by the Jersey Hoppers, a set by the Jersey Big Band at 3:45pm, and musical numbers from Brick House will round off the festivities at 6:20pm.
1:15pm, Royal Square: SS Vega Memorial Ceremony
A service to commemorate the International Red Cross ship the SS Vega - which arrived on 30 December 1944 and delivered life-saving food parcels to islanders - will take place in the Royal Square at 1:15pm.
The event will be attended by recipients of the Red Cross Parcels.
3pm, Westmount Crematorium: Slave Workers Memorial Service
A service to commemorate the 101 foreign forced workers who lost their lives working under Nazi rule in Jersey during the Occupation will take place at Westmount Crematorium.
It will be attended by Jersey's Bailiff, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and families of those affected.
3pm, Town Hall: Afternoon Tea
St Helier residents are invited to the Town Hall for a special Liberation Day Afternoon Tea.
5:30pm, Jersey Opera House: Liberation Day Concert
After being closed for refurbishment for the past five years, the Jersey Opera House's grand re-opening has been timed perfectly for the Liberation Day celebrations, with a special performance taking place.
The Philharmonia Orchestra will perform popular World War II songs, a tango concerto, and a tango version of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' suite.
There will be two performances: one from 5:30-6:30pm, and a second from 8-9pm.
Saturday 10 May
10am, St Saviour's Recreational Ground: St Saviour's Family Fun Event
St Saviour's Parish will take over the recreational grounds for a programme of events, talks, and displays.
Their plans include a vintage vehicle display, a programme of special guests, and a luncheon with individuals who lived through the Occupation.
11am, Grouville: Grouville Family Fun Event
Grouville's celebrations will feature food stalls, bouncy castles, and a VIP tea party for any resident who lived through the Occupation at 3pm.
The Band of the Island of Jersey will also perform at 2pm.
1pm, St Martin's Village Green: St Martin's Family Fun Event
St Martin's parish plans include a full afternoon of family competitions and games, a barbecue, live music and dancing, and a VIP senior citizens' tea party.
2pm, St John's School: St John's Family Fun Event
Attendees at St John's parish celebrations are encouraged to wear 1940s attire or red, white, and blue - they will be treated to a day of food, live music, and celebrations.
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