Armed Forces Day Spectacular on the Yorkshire Coast

Saturday sees a spectacular day of armed forces celebrations across the UK, including in Scarborough and Whitby.

The event in South Bay aims to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse Armed Forces community, encompassing currently serving troops, service families, veterans, and cadets, providing a "much valued morale boost" to those who serve.

The day's programme is packed with displays and ceremonies and commencing at 11am with a welcome from the Scarborough Town Crier.

It began with a series of parades:

Air displays are a key highlight and in a late change, the Gyro Air Displays Team appeared at 12 noon. 

The Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council is Richard Flinton:

"It's a brilliant event and just see so many people already gathering. I think we had 25,000 last year. Huge respect for the armed forces and I don't think anywhere does it better than Scarborough. Actually. It's looking great, the town. And just want to thank the council workers who've put a lot of effort into making sure that it looks good.

"So well into those guys, everybody who's associated with the armed forces, the British Legion and the veterans people as well.

"It's done with such precision and such great organisation."

Later there was a Tiger Moth at 1pm:

The Starlings Aerobatic Team began at 2pm:

Musical performances will be provided by the Norwegian Marching Bands, the Yorkshire Volunteers Band, the Scarborough Sea Cadet Band, and the East Riding Pipe Band throughout the day.

There was live art as well with a special installation by Animated Objects Theatre Company, here's Lee Threadgold with more:

"Yes, this is a life size replica from Mark one, A Spitfire. It's made entirely of cardboard and paper mache, largely cardboard, and it's about 1.2 kilometres of cardboard in there. It's about 400 kilos. It's taken about 950 individually drawn out and cut out parts to be able to get the the unique profiles and curves of the spitfire completed." 

The chairman of the Royal British Legion in Yorkshire, Major-General Michael Charlton-Weedy CBE was delighted with the occasion:

" I've been to every Armed Forces Day in Scarborough since the inception in 2009. It's wonderful. Happy day. Spans the generations, lots of smiles. Everything from the youngest cadets through to the most ancient veterans like me. It's all about celebration. Yes, there's an underlay of remembrance, but fundamentally it's about celebration and rejoicing.

The service that the armed forces give the nation. And the support they're given by their families. Never leave the families out of the equation. And this week with the opening of the Veterans Hub in Scarborough, you couldn't ask for more. It's great. Thank you, Scarborough."

Skipton Building Society are one of the event's sponsors, their spokesperson Andy Messenger, vice chair of the Armed Forces Network, added:

"We're a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant as a company. So that's us showing our support for veterans and their families, but also locally Scarborough's, our busiest branch. And we want to be right in the middle of the community and show our support for such an important event. So for us, any opportunity to engage with the community and be there on an important day means a lot to us."

Displays such as banner drill by the 152 City of Hull Royal Air Force Cadets at 12:45pm and a continuity drill by the Scarborough Sea Cadet display team at 1:15pm are also scheduled. The day will conclude with a standards, veterans, and cadets parade stepping off at 4:20pm, leading to a review and closing ceremony, featuring a Sunset ceremony, the lowering of the Armed Forces flag, and the National Anthem, finishing at 5pm. All timings for the day are subject to change.

Maria is one of the stall-holders at the event:

" Our charity is the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association. We look after veterans from the Gulf Conflicts, those that went out to Afghanistan and Iraq. Our main work is welfare work, but obviously today is about fundraising and getting funds in for the charity 'cause it's getting harder to get grants.

So a lot of it is either donated things or a lot of it we make, so it's crafting. So we've got potion bottles, so spirit bottles made into potion bottles."

Veterans will be publicly acknowledged throughout the day with speeches and tributes honouring their service and sacrifice. A dedicated Veterans’ Village will be available, offering a space for veterans to connect with support organisations, charities, and fellow service members. This area will also provide access to information and advice on health, wellbeing, housing, and financial support from military charities and organisations. Additionally, veterans can register for the Defence Privilege Card, which offers access to various online and high street discounts.

Those veterans include Major John Senior, who told us:

" I think the most important thing is actually giving our troops and their families a really good day out at Scarborough. Scarborough, people put out their hearts, put out their businesses for them, and they look after their armed forces. So it's a very popular place with our Armed Forces families.

So that's the whole focus of it this year. So we've got all those events going, all of those freebies we've got for service families, the free passes around the resort, free ice creams and free sticks of rock. Get the bunting out please, guys. Get it out there and let's make 'em proud."

Naval Warfare Returns to Peasholm Park

The legendary Naval Warfare show, will launch its summer season with an Armed Forces Day special at Peasholm Park in Scarborough's North Bay. At 3:00pm, the park's tranquil lake will be transformed into a dramatic battle zone, where 20-foot replica warships will recreate a thrilling sea battle, complete with explosions, smoke, and sound effects. This "unique and much-loved Scarborough tradition" is free to watch and forms a "powerful tribute to naval history and the courage of those who serve,".

Peter Bleach is chair of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment Association in Scarborough, he said:

" It is going be a wonderful day, and the weather forecast is pretty good. We've always been lucky with Armed Forces Day, so it's sunblock rather than bros. Scarborough's a wonderful place and it's a great place to have Armed Forces Estate always been very successful. I think it's about 50, 60,000 people come.

The message is always to out to veterans. Come down and join us. Have a chat with old friends and things like that. It's a really good way to get together and build the spirits up a little bit. We're looking forward to a really good day."

Road Closures

Visitors planning to attend should be aware of road closures and parking restrictions that will be in effect.

Several roads and car parks are closed from 5am until 11:59pm on Saturday to facilitate the event's set-up and take-down.

Affected areas include Blands Cliff, Eastborough (from Globe Street to Foreshore Road Junction), Eastborough Car Park, East Sandgate (from Tuthill to Eastborough), Foreshore Road, Quay Street, Quay Street Car Park, Sandside, and West Pier Car Park. Deliveries will be permitted until 9am.

North Yorkshire Council has indicated that if a resident's road is on the closure list, their vehicle must be moved by the specified times, or it may be removed, with a potential charge for recovery.

For Blue Badge holders, a statement from North Yorkshire Council clarified,

"Unfortunately, you are not able to leave your car parked even if you have a blue badge. All vehicles will have to be moved from the event area. We appreciate this may cause some inconvenience, but this is unavoidable. Arrangements are being made for anyone with special medical requirements."

For those attending with pets, event organisers stated,

"Well-behaved dogs on leads are very welcome at Scarborough Armed Forces Day. We know they’re part of the family too! Please ensure your dog is kept on a lead at all times and that you clean up after them to help keep the event safe and enjoyable for everyone. Let’s make it a great day for all—two-legged and four-legged visitors alike!".

Scarborough Armed Forces Day 2025 Event Timings - Saturday

Timings are subject to change.

Meanwhile at Dock End, Whitby, the event aims to raise vital funds for the nominated armed forces charity, RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association). Organisers, Whitby Town Council, encourage the public to "please come down and show your support".

The Royal Air Forces Association, RAFA, is the designated charity for the event and is known for providing support to RAF veterans and their families in and around the Whitby area.

The day's itinerary, sponsored by Whitby Seafood’s, promises a full schedule of activities and displays.

The event is planned to commence at 10:00 with the Reveille and Mayor's Parade, followed by a Drum Display at 11:00.

In the afternoon, a Children’s Military Drill is scheduled for 13:00, with music from the Esk Valley Big Band entertaining attendees from 14:45 to 15:45.

The day will conclude with a Sunset ceremony at 16:00, followed by a two-minute silence.

Beyond the main schedule, the event will feature various games and entertainment, including a tombola, Pickaflag, trampolines, a cake stall, Pirate Stocks, Splat the Rat, and Tin Can Alley.

Several associations will also be present, such as RAFA, The Para association, and The RBL (Royal British Legion).

Stalls from local entities like Whitby Distillery and Whitby Market are also anticipated to be part of the day's offerings.