Where you can watch VE Day celebration beacons being lit across the Midlands

ITV News

07-05-2025

More than a thousand beacons and several hundred 'lamp lights of peace' will be lit to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The event celebrates Victory in Europe - when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.
Commemorations started on the May bank holiday and run through until Thursday 8 May, which is VE Day itself - with other events also taking place at the weekend.
It is an opportunity for the nation to come together to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War generation from across the UK and Commonwealth, through a series of national and regional events and activities.
To mark the milestone, a series of beacons will be lit across the country simultaneously at 9.30pm on Thursday, May 8 - and many will be ignited across the Midlands.
The beacons and lights will not only be lit to commemorate human lives that were lost, but also to remember the millions of animals taken from family homes and farms to aid Allied forces during the conflict.
Here at ITV News Central we have created a list of beacon lighting events taking place across the region for people to attend and celebrate the occasion.
DERBYSHIRE
Crich: Crich Beacon Lighting, Crich Tramway Village. 8pm to 10pm. Limited parking will be available (at owner's risk) at Crich Tramway Village overflow car park on Plaistow Green Road, closing at 10.15pm.
Dronfield: Dronfield will celebrate VE Day 80 with a beacon lighting at Sindelfingen Park on the night of Thursday 8 May. Residents are asked to start gathering at Sindelfingen Park at approximately 8:45pm on the evening.
Rosliston Forestry Centre: 7pm to 10pm. Picnic and beacon lighting. People are welcome to wear 1940s style clothing, bring picnics, play games, dance, celebrate. Hub cafe will be open until 9.30pm for cakes, sandwiches and hot drinks. There will be 1940s songs in the cafe at 7pm.
Swadlincote: 9pm to 9.30pm. There will be celebrations of the lighting of the lamp of peace at Eureka Park on Thursday 8th May. People are being encouraged to meet at the Eureka Park Memorial Gates, Midland Road, Swadlincote, DE11 0AN.
Bosworth: It will take place at Bosworth Battlefield at 9.30pm. Other events taking place to mark the anniversary include a celebration event at the 1620s House and Garden in Donington-le-Heath on Saturday 10 May, and a week-long series of children's activities at all 16 council-managed libraries, as well as the five museums.
Lutterworth: Beacon lighting at Coventry Road recreation ground from 7pm to 10pm. Beacon will be lit at 9.30pm. Entertainment from Lutterworth Town Band and 1940s trio The Boswell Project.
Loughborough: Charnwood will mark 80 years since VE Day with a special beacon lighting event at Queen's Park in Loughborough. The Granby Street gate to the park will remain open throughout the event to allow people to exit following the beacon lighting. There will also be beacon lightings and other events in Anstey, East Goscote and Mountsorrel.
Quorn: 9.30pm. VE Day 80 Tribute reading and Beacon Brazier lighting at Stafford Orchard in Quorn. The Tribute will be read and beacons lit across the Nation bringing all together at this moment in time. Stafford Orchard, Station Rd, Quorn, LE12 8DE.
Oadby: A beacon lighting event is taking place from 8pm at Brocks Hill Country Park, Oadby, with music from Wigston Band and Wigston Community Choir. A flag raising is also taking place at 9am on 8 May outside the Brocks Hill Council Offices - all are welcome to attend.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Bingham: Beacon lighting event taking place from 8.30pm until 9.30pm in Market Street.
Kimberley: From 8.30pm. There is a beacon lighting ceremony at the Chapel on the Hill. People will gather at the War Memorial for the Proclamation at 8am, from there there will be a raising of the VE Day official flag at 9am at the "W" Garden. From 8.30pm people can gather at the Chapel on the Hill for the official beacon lighting ceremony.
Stapleford: The beacon lighting ceremony will take place at the Old Mill Club in Mill Lane, where the community may gather for the traditional lighting of the beacon. A former military person from the Stapleford Combined Services will read the official proclamation before another SCS member lights the beacon. Finishing with a bagpiper. Everyone is invited to the Little Chippy afterwards for complimentary fish and chip supper funded by Stapleford Town Council.
'Lights symbolise peace'
Bruno Peek, pageant master of the commemoration, said the flames from the beacons and lights symbolise peace and remember the millions of lives lost to war.
'In my personal view, we need to use every opportunity possible to promote peace with the way the world is going at the moment,' he told the PA news agency.
'People from all walks of life who are unable to light beacons can take part by lighting a lamp light of peace, with the flames from the lamp lights and the beacons representing the light of peace that emerged from the darkness of war.'
WEST MIDLANDS
COVENTRY AND SOLIHULL
Coventry: 7pm to 9.40pm. The city centre will host a VE Day Street Party in Broadgate. This free, family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, a big screen, and plenty of nostalgic fun. It will be an evening of performances, vintage music, Bhangra dance and moving tributes, before the lighting of the beacon to honour the past. Those attending are invited to attend in 1940's style dress and are welcome to bring picnics to enjoy throughout the event. Glass items will not be permitted.
Solihull: Beacon lighting at Elmdon Park. It will begin after 9pm and includes poetry readings and music from a piper in the park beside Elmdon Church. Prior to the beacon lighting, there will be a service at Elmdon Church from 7.30pm to 8.15pm, after which refreshments will be served to guests. Parking will not be available in the church car park. Visitors are encouraged to walk or use public transport.
BIRMINGHAM
Sutton Coldfield: Beacon lighting at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Church Hill, Sutton Coldfield. The evening will include the ceremonial lighting of the beacon as well as an opportunity to speak with history groups to recount and share memories of past VE Day celebrations. Parking will not be available at the church. Refreshments will be provided. The event is free, and all are welcome to attend.
STAFFORDSHIRE
Kidsgrove: The town council will be holding two events to to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE DAY. Early in the morning at the Town Hall the proclamation and the raising of the flag will be held. At 9.30pm the lighting of the Beacon at the Memorial Garden on The Avenue will take pleace.
Cheadle: There will be a celebration of the 80th anniversary at St Giles the Abbott Church in Cheadle. Events start at 9am with the raising of the flag at St Giles. At 9.15am there will be a memorial service at the Animal Memorial. From 5pm people can view the display of Second World War memorabilia. 6.25pm will see the reciting of the proclamation by the town crier. At 6.30pm there will be bell ringers followed by a Jazz from from 6.45pm. There will be a community choir between 8pm and 9pm before the beacon is lit at 9.30pm.
Newcastle-under-Lyme: Queens Gardens, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1BL. from 9pm, People are being encouraged to assemble in Queens Gardens, in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre. A beacon lighting tribute to mark VE Day will be lit at 9.30pm.
WARWICKSHIRE
Royal Leamington Spa: Beacon lighting event taking place from 7.30pm at Newbold Comyn to remember and give thanks to all those who fought for our freedom. The beacon will be lit at 9.30pm. As it will be dark at the time of lighting the beacon, please ensure you bring with you a torch or other adequate lighting.
Kenilworth: From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Kenilworth Town Council will be hosting a commemorative event at Kenilworth Castle featuring a service by the Royal British Legion, a performance by school choirs, a piper and the lighting of a beacon in one of the Castle's towers.
Stratford-upon-Avon: From 6.30pm bells will ring at Holy Trinity Church. At 7.20pm the official opening of the Bandstand, followed by a performance from the City of Coventry Brass Band, then the procession will take place to the Garden of Remembrance. At 9pm there will be a short service of commemoration and at approximately 9:30pm the lighting of the beacon will take place.
WORCESTERSHIRE
Worcester: A full day of commemorative events is planned on Thursday 8 May, culminating in a community celebration and beacon lighting ceremony at Fort Royal Park. Proceedings will begin at 9am with a flag-raising ceremony in Cathedral Square. At 11am, the front of the Guildhall will come alive with a street party-themed performance by school pupils from Tudor Grange Academy Worcester and Tudor Grange Primary Academy Perdiswell. In the evening, the festivities will move to Fort Royal Park for a party in the park, kicking off at 6.30pm. Residents are encouraged to bring a picnic and soak up the celebratory atmosphere. The evening will conclude with a moving ceremony beginning at 9pm, including a Drumhead service, wreath-laying, and commemorative speeches. At 9.30pm, a ceremonial beacon will be lit, bringing the day to a close.