VE Day 80
The 80th anniversary of VE Day will be commemorated on Thursday 8 May 2025, marking 80 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe. The day will be celebrated with events and activities across the UK, including events in local communities across the district.
DDC has been working to keep communities informed and to promote local events.
For more information on activities to celebrate VE Day 80, please visit https://www.veday80.org.uk/
VE Celebration events in the district
8 May 2025
Dover Town Council will be marking the anniversary with an evening of entertainment on the Marina Curve.
In Sandwich, the Union flag will be raised at 9am at the Guildhall Forecourt, bells will ring out from 6.30pm and they'll be entertainment from 7pm.
For details on both events, visit VE Day 80 on the White Cliffs Country website.
10 May 2025
The RBL Dover White Cliffs is remembering and celebrating VE Day with a party in Pencester Gardens, with entertainment throughout the day.
Visit the What's On page for further details.
11 May 2025
VE Day Service at Dover War Memorial. Visit the What's On page for further details.
Street Parties and Beacon Lighting
Communities around the country are being encouraged to mark the anniversary by holding VE Day 80 street parties. To register your street party event and to add the details to our online map, please complete a copy of our event notification form.
Please note: The deadline for applications to close a road for VE Day street parties has now passed, therefore road closures will not be approved.
Register a beacon lighting event.
Community Funding
From April to August, Arts Council England will work with arts organisations across the country using culture to tell the stories of our towns, cities and villages during the Second World War. Funding will also be made available through the NationalLotteryCommunityFund for organisations across England to bid for grants to host community events, activities and exhibitions to help tell the stories of the Second World War at a local level, ensuring the legacy of the war and its impact on individuals and communities across the country is not forgotten. The Big Lunch will develop street party packs to help communities with accessible resources and these will be uploaded to the VE/VJ Day 80 website - ve-vjday80.gov.uk.