Southport war memorial — the Grade II* listed monument in King's Gardens, focal point of the Armed Forces Festival

Free EventSouthport · 27–28 June 2026

Southport ArmedForces Festival

A free town-wide celebration across the Promenade, King's Gardens, Princes Park, and town centre. Military parades, fly-overs, Drumhead Service, and vehicle displays. 27–28 June 2026. And the beginning of something bigger.

What's On →Southport's Wartime Story

27–28 Jun

When

Saturday & Sunday

Town-wide

Where

Promenade to Lord Street

Free

Entry

No tickets required

2 Days

Duration

Full programme both days

Terry's Take

This One Matters More Than Usual

Southport has a genuine connection with the armed forces that goes deeper than a two-day event on the seafront. Merseyside was at the heart of the Second World War effort. Children were evacuated here from Bootle and Liverpool during the Blitz. RAF Woodvale at Ainsdale helped defend the Irish Sea corridor and Liverpool. Pleasureland itself was commandeered by the Air Ministry during the war. Families across this area have direct personal connections to that history, and those connections are still here in living memory.

The Armed Forces Festival on the Promenade captures something real. The Drumhead Service in particular, an open-air memorial service with serving personnel, veterans and cadets, is worth attending even if you've never been to anything like it before. The emotion is not performed. It's the genuine thing.

The 2026 festival carries extra weight. There is a serious conversation in Southport about turning this into something much larger, potentially the UK's biggest Armed Forces Day event. A full week, not just a weekend. The whole town, not just the Promenade. The 2026 festival is where that ambition gets tested. It is worth your attention.

Why It Matters Here

Southport's Wartime Story

This isn't just history written in books. For many families across Southport, Bootle, Liverpool and the wider region, it is personal.

✈️

RAF Woodvale

The airfield at Ainsdale, a few miles south of Southport town centre, was a working RAF base that played a direct role in defending the Irish Sea corridor and the Port of Liverpool during the Second World War. The base still operates today as a mixed civilian and military airfield. Its presence is why the Armed Forces connection to this part of Merseyside is more than symbolic.

🚂

The Evacuees

During the Blitz, children were evacuated from Bootle, Liverpool, Seaforth, and the heavily bombed areas around the docks to the relative safety of Southport. Families across this region have parents and grandparents who were evacuated here, or who took in evacuees. The connection between Southport and the communities of Liverpool and Bootle runs through that shared wartime experience.

🎡

Pleasureland and the War Effort

Southport's famous Pleasureland amusements were taken over by the Air Ministry during the Second World War. Fairground operators and entertainment businesses across the region contributed to the war effort in ways that are part of local family histories. Some of those families still have businesses and connections in Southport today.

🔥

The Home Front

Bombs fell on Southport. Lives were lost. Homes were damaged. Fire service personnel dealt with the aftermath of the bombing of Liverpool and Bootle, the kind of scenes that take a lifetime to process. The story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in impossible circumstances is not abstract history here. It belongs to specific families, specific streets, specific names.

“I am sure there are many families across this area with their own stories to tell. Stories of service, evacuation, loss, survival, humour, hardship. Perhaps now is the time to tell them, before those memories are lost forever.”

Local community voice, May 2026

What's On

Festival Programme 2026

⛪

Drumhead Service

The traditional open-air armed forces memorial service. Conducted by military chaplains with serving personnel, veterans, cadets, and the public. One of the most genuinely moving events in the programme.

🎺

Military Parade

Serving personnel, veterans, and cadets marching along the Promenade. The seafront backdrop makes this one of the most impressive settings for a military parade in the North of England.

✈️

Fly-Overs

Military aircraft fly-overs over the Promenade and seafront. Specific aircraft confirmed closer to the event. The coastal approach gives a clear sky for the passes.

🚛

Vehicle Displays

Military vehicles on static display at Princes Park. Armoured vehicles, trucks, and equipment. Hands-on elements for families. Military personnel available to answer questions.

🎭

Live Entertainment

Music and entertainment across the festival sites throughout both days. Military bands, community performances, and family activities. Full programme published by Sefton Council ahead of the event.

🎖️

Cadets and Veterans

Cadet forces from across Merseyside participate. Veterans' organisations have a prominent presence throughout the festival. All service eras are represented and honoured.

Where to Go

Festival Locations

The festival spans the whole of Southport. Here's what's where.

Main Parade

The Promenade

The main parade route. Thousands line the seafront to watch the military march past. The backdrop of the Irish Sea behind the columns of service personnel is genuinely moving.

Memorial Area

King's Gardens

Formal gardens adjacent to the Promenade, the key gathering point for the Drumhead Service and memorial events. Veterans' organisations have a strong presence here throughout both days.

Vehicle Displays

Princes Park

Static display area for military vehicles, equipment, and interactive exhibits. Families with children tend to gravitate here. Hands-on elements and military machinery up close.

Cultural Programme

The Atkinson

Southport's cultural centre on Lord Street hosts exhibitions and events related to armed forces heritage. Worth checking the specific programme for 2026 at theatkinson.co.uk.

Wider Festival

Town Centre

Lord Street and the wider town centre hosts additional entertainment, cadet displays, and community stalls throughout both days. The whole of Southport becomes part of the event.

The Bigger Picture

Could Southport Host the UK's Biggest Armed Forces Day?

There is a serious and growing conversation in Southport about taking the Armed Forces Festival well beyond its current two-day format. The vision, which has support from local business owners, community leaders, and armed forces organisations, is for a full week of events spread across the entire town.

The practical case for Southport is strong. The Marine Lake, the Promenade, the parks, the wide seafront, and the town's existing events infrastructure all lend themselves to a large-scale armed forces event. Unlike some coastal towns, Southport does not need to rely on tides or close significant roads to host events at scale.

The vision includes elements that would be genuinely distinctive: a 1940s heritage area covering the wartime story of the region, a Marine Lake spectacle, the Red Arrows over the seafront, simulators and interactive displays for young people, cadet challenges, and an event that honours veterans from all eras rather than just recent conflicts. Combine it with the Air Show and you have a Bank Holiday weekend like nothing else on the UK coast.

🔴Red Arrows over the seafront

🪖Vintage military vehicles and tanks

🎵1940s swing to modern family entertainment

🌊Marine Lake pyrotechnic show

🎓Simulators and cadet challenges

🏪Street food, markets and family zones

📸1940s heritage area and storytelling

🎖️Veterans from all service eras

The 2026 festival is the proof of concept. The town is watching. So, by all accounts, is the Ministry of Defence.

Southport Air Show 2026: also August Bank Holiday weekend

Before You Go

Practical Information

Getting There

The Promenade (PR8 1RX) is the main hub for parade and fly-overs

By train: Southport station (Merseyrail from Liverpool Central), 15 min walk to the Promenade

Town centre car parks: 10–15 min walk to King's Gardens and Princes Park

Marine Drive car park: on the Promenade, fills early on busy event weekends

Planning Tips

Full programme with timings published by Sefton Council ahead of the event

Promenade positions go early for the parade. Arrive before the march starts

Princes Park vehicle displays are less crowded and more accessible for families

The Atkinson events may require tickets. Check ahead at theatkinson.co.uk

Common Questions

Armed Forces Festival. FAQs

When is the Southport Armed Forces Festival 2026?

The Southport Armed Forces Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June 2026.

Is the Southport Armed Forces Festival free?

Yes. The Armed Forces Festival is a free town-wide event. There is no entry charge to attend the parades, fly-overs, vehicle displays, or entertainment across the Promenade, King's Gardens, Princes Park, and the town centre.

What happens at the Southport Armed Forces Festival?

The festival includes a Drumhead Service, military parades on the Promenade, fly-overs, static vehicle and equipment displays, live entertainment, cadet displays, and community events. It spans multiple locations across the town over two full days.

Is the Armed Forces Festival just for veterans?

Not at all. It is a community event for everyone. Veterans, service families, cadets, and members of the public are all welcome. It is a family-friendly event and many people attend purely for the spectacle of the parade and fly-overs.

Why is the 2026 festival significant?

The 2026 Armed Forces Festival is a proof-of-concept event supporting Southport's bid to host the full National Armed Forces Day in 2027. If the 2026 festival demonstrates the town can deliver a major event at scale, Southport hopes to host one of the UK's largest Armed Forces Day celebrations the following year, potentially combined with the Air Show.

Will there be a fly-over at the Southport Armed Forces Festival?

Military fly-overs are part of the planned programme. The specific aircraft will be confirmed closer to the event. The Promenade is the best viewing location as the aircraft pass over the coast.

What is the connection between Southport and the Second World War?

Southport has genuine wartime significance. Children were evacuated here from Bootle and Liverpool during the Blitz. RAF Woodvale at Ainsdale helped defend the Irish Sea and Liverpool. Pleasureland was taken over by the Air Ministry during the war. Families across Southport, Bootle, Seaforth and Merseyside have direct personal connections to that history.

Where should I go for the Armed Forces Festival?

For the parade, the Promenade is the main location. For military vehicles and family-friendly interactive displays, Princes Park is the key area. For the Drumhead Service and memorial events, King's Gardens. The Atkinson on Lord Street also hosts related events. The full programme with timings will be published by Sefton Council ahead of the event.