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Celebrate: Events planned across the island to entertain the masses

Celebrate: Events planned across the island to entertain the masses

Wednesday 09 May 2018

Celebrate: Events planned across the island to entertain the masses

Wednesday 09 May 2018


Following the parade and church service in St Peter Port, a number of events have been planned to take place in St Peter Port today, so people can celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the end of the Occupation.

On Wednesday 9 May, 1945, hundreds of people rushed to the harbour to greet the British personnel who signed the liberation documents with the German occupying forces.

That will be repeated today with families gathering in St Peter Port to 'Remember and Celebrate' on what has become Guernsey's national day.

Following the formalities of this morning's events which include the Liberation Parade and Church Service, the focus will be on fun during this afternoon.

With running races earlier on during the morning, from 10:00 there will be various refreshments available with a number of culinary delights from local traders including burgers and hot dogs, fish and chips, Thai and paella as well as doughnuts, cakes, waffles, ice creams and milkshakes.

There'll be markets selling food produce as well as other goods at various points throughout central St Peter Port. 

Liberation Day Creation Station

Pictured: File image of Liberation Day 2017

There is lots planned to keep younger children happy, with the Creation Station again appointed to run activities in the Market Square area. The Air Dome will house materials allowing children to create and make their own Liberation Day keepsakes.

Also from 11:00 until 17:00 there will be more children's activities on the Crown Pier with free entertainment for younger ones including a soft play area, a play trailer and a jungle den bouncy castle - all provided by Funtime Hire Ltd. 

The Liberation Dance Zone returns for 2018 with a number of groups entertaining expected crowds from 12:00 on the Albert Pier outside the Tourist Information Centre and at the Liberation Monument:

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From 12:15 there will be a number of reflective events hosted in the 'Homefront Marquee' on the Crown Pier with music from the 1940s, readings from speeches made by Winston Churchill and a performance of The Songs that Won the War.

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One of the highlights for many people is the annual Liberation Day Cavalcade sponsored again by Condor Ferries. It will start at 14:00 from Pembroke with a number of military vehicles and vintage motors taking part, heading in to St Peter Port via the coastal route along Bordeaux and Bulwer Avenue. Following the cavalcade the vehicles will be on static display at the Albert Pier.

Also from 14:00 the Lions Club Go-Karts will be open at the Albany.

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There will be live music throughout the afternoon at Castle Cornet between 14:00 and 17:00 with further live music from 14:30 on the Albert Pier. That will end at 23:00 following the fireworks at 21:30 from the Castle Breakwater which will be visible across the east coast of Guernsey and further afield. 

One of the final public events of Liberation Day will be the Festiva Concert at St James which is open to all and is billed as "a night of quite unashamedly patriotic music" including songs from WW1 and WWII.

This will be Festiva’s 20th anniversary of presenting the annual Liberation Day Concert ‘Prom Night’ celebrating 73 years of Freedom.

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All images taken from guernseyliberationday.com 

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