It’s time to get ready for Armed Forces Day again!
Each year, we take the time to celebrate our armed forces, past and present and their families for their contribution to our country.
This year, there are lots of works going on in Cleethorpes town centre, and the weekend also coincides with the UEFA World Cup group games so the team behind the fantastic weekend have been working hard to move things around the resort and deal with the extra challenges this year has brought!
Alongside the MoD, there’s four key sponsors of the event this year. Alex Baxter, Managing Director of AFMET, the group of volunteers that organise Armed Forces Day each year, said “We’d like to thank our regular sponsors: Phillips66, RWE and Associated British Ports, along with a new sponsor this year, SSAFA. Without this, we couldn’t put the weekend on to celebrate our armed forces community.”
This year, the Associated British Ports Community Stage has been moved to the Boating Lake main car park area, but will still have firm family favourites through the day – whether it’s local choirs, dance or theatre groups.
In a change to normal proceedings, on Saturday night, there will be a ticketed gig (just £2 a ticket) at the stage – the “Twist and Shout Show” – a non-stop feast of music with a live band that will take you through the 1960s from start to finish, and promises to leave you on your feet and dancing! The show will be supported by Ian Latimer as the opening act.
To secure your ticket to the evening show, if you’re in the area, you can pick one up from Blighty’s coffee shop on Knoll St in Cleethorpes ahead of the weekend (up to Wednesday 24 June), or you can purchase one over the weekend from Meridian Showground ticket office.
In the north of the resort, between Sea Road and the leisure centre, there will be the favourites of the armed forces personnel parade as well as a vehicle parade. The military aircraft flying displays will also be centred off Ross Castle, with the Typhoon, one of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft, and the RAF Tutor Display team all taking their turns on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Lower Kingsway will host the trade village as normal, from Brighton Slipway to the leisure centre, finishing with the Big Wheel, sponsored by Phillips 66, at the leisure centre.
Back down in the Boating Lake area, there will be more trade stalls, food and drink stands and family fun stalls. And at Meridian Showground, on Saturday and Sunday, you will be able to see military vehicles as well as the Emergency services and charity villages.
RWE are regular sponsors of the event – with RWE’s Nathan Kerins commenting: “RWE is proud to support Armed Forces Weekend in Cleethorpes, a landmark event that brings communities together to recognise and celebrate the dedication, service and sacrifice of the UK’s Armed Forces.”
Announced as the new sponsors of the Veterans Village, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity will once again be heavily involved in the Armed Forces weekend celebrations in Cleethorpes. SSAFA has been supporting the Armed Forces community for over 140 years and, in 2025, its team of dedicated volunteers in Lincolnshire supported 128 serving personnel, veterans and their families across the county, distributing over £250,000 in financial assistance to ensure they never battle alone. To continue this mission, eventgoers can show their support by visiting the SSAFA Veterans Village, located in the Meridian Showground, by stopping for a brew, entering the raffle or leaving a personal, handwritten message to show their appreciation for our serving personnel and their families on the Tree of Thanks.
Alex Baxter, continued: “We’ve had to work hard this year to adjust to things going on in the resort, and we’ve had lots of challenges to deal with in terms of changing locations, and things outside our control. Having said that, we think we’ve pulled together a great weekend, where people can come and say thank you, as we always have in North East Lincolnshire, to the armed forces and their families.”
Keep up to date with the timetable of events on the Armed Forces website: www.afmet.co.uk or on the Armed Forces Cleethorpes Facebook page.
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