VE Day

Join events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day

Residents are invited to join events taking place in Harborough district to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, known as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).

The historic anniversary takes place on Thursday 8 May 2025 and celebrations are being planned across the country. Harborough District Council is encouraging residents to take part in local events which include:

Saturday 3 May and Sunday 4 May (9am to 3pm each day) 

  • A 1940s weekend event will take place at the award-winning Harborough Market, including a period style singer, a DJ, vintage trader stalls and classic vehicles. Activities are also being planned for the town square throughout the weekend. 

Thursday 8 May  

  • Willoughby Waterleys Parish Council will be raising a VE Day 80th anniversary flag at the village hall on Main Street at 9am
     
  • At 10am there will be a VE Day flag raising ceremony and proclamation taking place near The Symington Building/ Old Grammar School in Market Harborough. Everyone is welcome to attend. 
     
  • From 7pm to 10pm there will be a beacon lighting event at Coventry Road Recreation Ground in Lutterworth. The beacon will be lit at 9.30pm and there will be entertainment from Lutterworth Town Band and 1940's trio The Boswell Project. A bar, BBQ and other hot food will be available with fun games for the children and goodie bags. This event is not being organised by Harborough District Council. 
     
  • In Market Harborough at 7.30pm a commemorative service of thanksgiving will take place at St Dionysius Church on the High Street. This will be followed immediately by an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial starting at 8.30pm. The public are strongly encouraged to attend both events. Please arrive at least ten minutes before the start time.    

Sunday 11 May from 10am

Are you organising an event?

If you are a community group, school, parish/town council, parish meeting or any other organisation that is organising an event which is open to the public please send details to communications@harborough.gov.uk for inclusion on this web page. 

Organisers may also find the council’s events toolkit helpful as it contains lots of information about what needs to be done to run a safe public event. Please note that Leicestershire County Council’s deadline for road closures applications for events and street parties has passed.

Support and advice for armed forces personnel

The council offers a range of support and advice for regulars, veterans and volunteer reservists of the armed forces along with information about how service personnel can save money from offers and discounts that are available.