Armed forces celebratory and commemorative events
Every year there are a variety of events throughout the year and across the county celebrating Kent’s military heritage and commemorating the service of men and women in our armed forces throughout history.
To mark 100 years since the start of World War 1, a timeline of Kent's residents' first-hand experiences in the First World War was created by volunteers using the archives at the Kent History and Archive Centre.
May 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. Find out more on the British Legion website.
The Step Short Memorial, a memorial arch in Folkestone, was opened by Prince Harry in 2014 to remember the millions of men who passed through the Harbour on their way to battle.
Events calendar
If you know about a significant event that is happening, contact civic.office@kent.gov.uk.
| Date | Time | Event details | Type of event | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2024 | 11:30am | Civic and Freedom of the Borough Parade County Hall to All Saints Church, Maidstone | Public | Maidstone Borough Council mayor@maidstone.gov.uk |
| 6 June 2024 | 8am to 8:30am | D-Day 80 Proclamation Memorial Gardens, Church Approach, New Romney TN28 8AS | Public | New Romney Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 9am | D-Day 80 County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ | Public | Civic Office |
| 6 June 2024 | 9am | D-Day 80 Flag Raising Ramsgate | Public | Ramsgate Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 11am | D-Day (NVA) Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 6 June 2024 | 11am to 11:30am | Poem for Schools - D-Day Heroes Memorial Gardens (opposite St Nicholas Church), Church Approach, New Romney TN28 8AS | Public | New Romney Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 6pm to 9:30pm | D-Day 80 Sandwich The Quay, Sandwich CT13 9EN | Public | Sandwich Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 7:30pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting Folkestone | Public | Georgia Wilson |
| 6 June 2024 | 7:30pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting The Greens, Littlestone, New Romney TN28 8QS | Public | New Romney Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 8:45pm to 9:30pm | D-Day 80 Hythe Marine Parade, Hythe CT21 6AP | Public | Hythe Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 9pm to 9:45pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting By bull structure next to Reims Way (parking in Whitehall Road, Canterbury CT2 8BG) | Public | Canterbury City Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 9pm to 9:45pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting By Reculver Drive car park, Herne Bay CT6 6QE | Public | Canterbury City Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 9pm to 9:45pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting Tankerton Road, Whitstable | Public | Canterbury City Council |
| 6 June 2024 | 9:15pm | D-Day 80 Beacon Lighting Ramsgate | Public | Ramsgate Town Council |
| 6 June 2024 | To be confirmed | D-Day 80 Swanley Swanley Recreation Ground | Public | To be confirmed |
| 7 June 2024 | - | Tommy’s D-Day Trek Aylesford to Chilham | Register to join | Royal British Legion Email to register your interest natasha.wadhams@rbli.co.uk |
| 8 June 2024 | 11am | D-Day 80 Ceremony of Remembrance War Memorial, Tunbridge Wells | Public | Royal British Legion, Tunbridge Wells |
| 22 June 2024 | 11am | Armed Forces Day - Hythe Oaklands, Stade Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 6BG | Public | Hythe Town Council |
| 24 June 2024 | 10am | Armed Forces Flag Raising Ceremony County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ | Public | Civic Office |
| 24 June 2024 | 10:30am | Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Jubilee Square, Maidstone | Public | Maidstone Borough Council mayor@maidstone.gov.uk |
| 28 June 2024 | - | Ride with a Veteran Aylesford to Ypres | Register to join | Register your interest on the Royal British Legion website. |
| 29 June 2024 | To be confirmed | Armed Forces Day The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Vicky Deakin vicky.deakin@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 29 June 2024 | 9:45am to 10:15am | Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Dane John Gardens, Watling Street, Canterbury CT1 2QX | Public | - |
| 29 June 2024 | 10:40am | Armed Forces Day Parade and Drumhead Service Military Road, Ramsgate Harbour | Public | Katie Kelley |
| 29 June 2024 | 11am to 4pm | Armed Forces Day Swanley | - | More details to follow. |
| 30 June 2024 | 10am and 5:45pm | Armed Forces Day The Leas Bandstand and The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Vicky Deakin vicky.deakin@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 1 July 2024 | 11am | Canada Day Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 20 July 2024 | 6:30pm | Royal British Legion Kent County Coronation Dinner Bearsted Gold Club | By invitation | Caye Gould |
| 15 August 2024 | 11am | VJ Day Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 15 September 2024 | 5:45pm | Battle of Britain Day The RAF Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 21 September 2024 | To be confirmed | D Day Concert Ashford School, East Hill, Ashford | - | More details to follow. |
| 25 October 2024 | To be confirmed | Civic launch of the national poppy appeal County Hall, Maidstone | By invitation | Civic Office |
| 3 November 2024 | 2pm | Dedication of Garden of Remembrance Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 10 November 2024 | 10:25am onwards | Remembrance Day wreath laying, service and parade Buttermarket at 10:25am | Public | Canterbury Cathedral and Canterbury City Council |
| 10 November 2024 | 10:30am | Remembrance Day The War Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Georgina Wilson |
| 10 November 2024 | 10:30am | Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service County Hall to War Memorial in Broadway for Service of Remembrance, Maidstone | Public | Maidstone Borough Council mayor@maidstone.gov.uk |
| 10 November 2024 | 10:30am | Remembrance Day Parade and Service The Vine, Sevenoaks TN13 3UH | Public | Anne White |
| 10 November 2024 | 10:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade Biggin Street, Dover to People of Dover War Memorial, then to Market Square | Public | Dover Town Council |
| 10 November 2024 | 11am to 2pm | Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade War Memorial, Market Street, Sandwich CT13 9DA | Public | Sandwich Town Council |
| 10 November 2024 | 2:30pm | Remembrance Sunday Swanley | - | More details to follow. |
| 11 November 2024 | 10:50am | Armistice Day Greatness Cemetery, Seal Road, Sevenoaks TN14 5AA | Public | Anne White |
| 11 November 2024 | 11am | Remembrance Day Burgate, Canterbury CT1 2HW | Public | Canterbury City Council |
| 11 November 2024 | 11am | Machine Gun Corps Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone | Public |
Trevor Mays truckintrev@live.co.uk |