Around 200 events will take place on Armed Forces Day – Saturday
28 June 2025 – as the nation gets together to thank the Armed
Forces community.
The town of Cleethorpes will host this year's Armed Forces Day
national event, and is expected to welcome 200,000 visitors to
the celebrations this weekend.
The national event in Cleethorpes, organised by North East
Lincolnshire Council, will feature a military parade with
personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.
The parade will include music from the British Army Band
Catterick and the Band of the Coldstream Guards – famous
worldwide for performing during Changing the Guard and at
Trooping The Colour.
Defence Secretary MP, who will celebrate Armed
Forces Day in Cleethorpes, said:
“I want to thank the people of Cleethorpes for hosting such a
spectacular Armed Forces Day national event.
“On Armed Forces Day the nation unites to thank our Armed Forces:
our service personnel, our reservists, our veterans and our
cadets. This is the day we celebrate all they do – in ordinary
and extraordinary ways – to make Britain secure at home, and
strong abroad.
“We're matching our words with actions, committing an extra
£1.5bn to fix forces family housing this parliament, the largest
pay rise in over 20 years for personnel, and bringing the Armed
Forces Covenant fully into law. Our government's Plan for Change
is renewing the nation's contract with those who serve.”
Alex Baxter, Managing Director of the Armed Forces Major
Events Committee in Cleethorpes, said:
“We're incredibly proud to be able to host the Armed Forces Day
national event for a second time here in the resort.
“Each year, we join together along with around 200,000 visitors,
to say thank you to our armed forces, both past, present, and
their families.”
Councillor Philip Jackson, leader of North East
Lincolnshire Council, said:
“We are all naturally delighted and honoured that Cleethorpes'
event has once again been recognised in this way and awarded
national status for a second time. This is testament to the hard
work and dedication of all involved, led by our Armed
“Forces Major Events Team. We look forward to showcasing the very
best of Cleethorpes and North East Lincolnshire.”
Cleethorpes will also host a spectacular series of air displays
by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – the Red Arrows – and the
RAF Typhoon Display Team.
A flypast by Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters and historic
aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will also
dazzle spectators gathered on the town's beaches.
The seaside celebrations will also include a military village of
exhibitions and activities, three entertainment stages, a
fireworks display and a ‘thank you' concert for residents and
tourists.
The Ministry of Defence has also announced that the bidding
process for next year's Armed Forces Day national event will open
next week, on Tuesday 1 July.
Local authorities can apply for up to £50,000 in funding to host
the official Armed Forces Day national event. This follows the
government's decision to bring back the Armed Forces Day national
event for the first time since 2023.
The winning town or city will also receive support from the
Ministry of Defence such as military musicians, air displays and
flypasts.
Armed Forces Day – the last Saturday of June – is an annual
opportunity to show support and gratitude for the Armed Forces
community, including serving personnel, veterans, reservists,
cadets, and their families.
Recent Armed Forces Day national events have been hosted by
Falmouth (2023), Scarborough (2022) and Salisbury (2019).
The Ministry of Defence recently announced ambitious plans to
transform defence to make Britain safer – secure at home and
strong abroad.
The Government will put the Armed Forces community at the heart
of these plans by renewing the nation's contract with those who
serve and adopting a whole-of-society approach to our national
resilience.
National occasions like Armed Forces Day support the Government's
Plan for Change in helping defence industry boost local economies
and ensure all parts of society contribute to our national
security.
The Ministry of Defence provides funding to local authorities and
charities who hold Armed Forces Day events in their community.
This Armed Forces Week, 8,200 members of the UK Armed Forces will
be deployed overseas, serving on 52 operations in 38 countries.
Hundreds more personnel are working to protect our skies, shores
and seas at home.
There are around two million military veterans in the United
Kingdom. The government's Office for Veterans' Affairs lead
efforts to support veterans and celebrate their brilliant
contributions to society.
Notes to editors
The Armed Forces Day national event bidding process, including
deadlines and eligibility criteria, will be revealed on the Armed
Forces Day website on 1 July.
Find out more about Armed Forces Day at www.armedforcesday.org.uk.
