ARMED Forces Weekend returns to Weymouth next weekend with a packed triple-header of celebrations and commemorations.

This year’s celebrations take place from Saturday, June 18th to Monday, June 20th: including a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Team.

The first event will see an impressive display of military vehicles along Weymouth Pavilion’s forecourt from 10am on the Saturday morning. After that there will be live music and entertainment from The Decadettes between 11am and 3pm. The Decadettes will perform a sing-along tribute to the forces whilst there will also be a performance from the South Wales Police Band.

Rounding things out on the Saturday will be one final parade of the military vehicle convoy as they start their engines and make their way along the seafront from 3.30pm. On the seafront, there will also be a variety of ex-service associations stands and charity stalls.

A Spitfire and Hurricane flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Team will commence an open-air service at the Cenotaph on Weymouth seafront on Sunday. The service will feature a parade of local veterans along the Esplanade with band performances taking place into the afternoon.

An Armed Forces flag raising ceremony will conclude the weekend of celebrations on June 20th at 10.30am. The flag will be raised outside The New Town Hall, on Commercial Road, and has been supported by a £10,000 grant from the Ministry of Defence.

The full programme of celebrations follows on from last year’s scaled back events and the complete cancellation of the celebration in 2020. This year will mark the 76th Armed Forces Weekend to be hosted in Weymouth.

Cllr Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth, said: “Weymouth has a long and proud association with the armed forces and it’s an honour to host one of the country’s most popular annual veterans’ events. This year’s Armed Forces Weekend will be especially poignant as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

“I greatly look forward to taking part in the event and welcoming veterans and their families from across the country to the town.”