Armed forces celebratory and commemorative events
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.
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.
May 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. Find out more on the British Legion website.
| Date and time | Event details | Type of event | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 April 2022 11am to 11:30am | Union and Falkland’s Flag Raising Dane John Gardens, Watling Street, Canterbury CT1 2QX | Public | Janette Edis janedis69@gmail.com |
|
2 June 2022 Evening | The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council |
| 6 June 2022 11am | D Day – (NVA) Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council |
| 25 June 2022 Lunchtime | AFD – Veterans & Cadets Lunch To be confirmed | Public | Vicky Deakin vicky.deakin@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 1 July 2022 11am | Canada Day Shorncliffe Military Cemetery, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 15 August 2022 11am | VJ Day Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council |
| 15 September 2022 5:45pm | Battle of Britain Day The RAF Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council |
14 October 2022 1pm | Grenadier Guard Parade Hythe High Street, Hythe | Public | Hythe Town Council clerk@hythe-tc.gov.uk |
| 1 to 13 November | A Time to Remember Armistice Exhibition St George’s Art Centre, Gravesend | Public | Gravesham Borough Council Find out more on the Visit Gravesend website. |
| 6 November 2022 2pm | Dedication of Garden of Remembrance Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 11 November 2022 11am | Armistice two minute silence War Memorial, Birchington | Public | Birchington Parish Council |
| 11 November 2022 11am | Machine Gun Corps Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone | Public | Trevor Mays truckintrev@live.co.uk |
| 11 November 2022 12:45pm to 1:30pm | Denton Parish Remembrance Service Lower Range Road, Denton | Private | St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School |
| 13 November 2022 10am to 12pm | Remembrance Sunday Broadstairs War Memorial | Public | Broadstairs Town Council admin@broadstairs.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10am | Remembrance Day Service and Parade Parade leaves Minster Legion to St Mary’s Church followed by service. A further service at Minster cemetery at 12:15pm. | Public | Minster & Monkton Derek.Crow-Brown@kent.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade St Peters Church, Broadstairs | Public | - |
| 13 November 2022 10:20am | Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service Parade starts at 10:20am from the Town Hall. Service of Remembrance at 10:50am at the Memorial in the Broadway, Maidstone. | Public | Maidstone Borough Council |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade The Square (junction of Station Road/Canterbury Road A28) and All Saint’s Church, Birchington on Sea | Public | Birchington Parish Council bill.anderson@birchington-pc.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am | Remembrance Sunday The War Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone | Public | Folkestone Town Council toni.brenchley@folkestone-tc.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12pm | Remembrance Sunday Parade Commencing at Burnaby Road, London Road to Northfleet Hill, Gravesend | Public | Gravesham Scouts Andy.treadwell@cwc.ac.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am | Remembrance Day Town Hall, High Street, Hythe CT21 5AJ | Public | Hythe Town Council |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade Service at War Memorial Margate followed by parade | Public | Margate Town Council ingrid@margate.org.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade Commencing with parade to St George’s Church for service | Public | Ramsgate Town Council kim.hobbs@ramsgatetc.org.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:30am to 12pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade Windmill Hill Memorial Gardens (parade from Khalsa Avenue) | Public | RBL and Gravesham Borough Council Amit.hayer@gravesham.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 10:45am | Service of Remembrance St Nicholas Church, Church Road, New Romney TN28 8EU | Public | RBL and New Romney Town Council |
| 13 November 2022 10:50am to 12:15pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade The Vine War Memorial, Dartford Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3SY | Public | Sevenoaks Town Council DTC@sevenoakstown.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 11:30am to 12:30pm | Remembrance Day Service and Parade St Saviours Church, Westgate-on-Sea to Memorial on Sea Road | Public | Westgate-on-Sea Town Council townclerk@westgateonsea.gov.uk |
| 13 November 2022 2pm to 4pm | Meopham Remembrance Service and Parade Steeles Lane, Meopham Green, Meopham | Public | Meopham Parish Council Sandra.p43@hotmail.co.uk |
| 13 November 2022 2:30pm | Remembrance Day Swanley Town Centre, Swanley BR8 7TL | Public | Swanley Town Council |
Last year's events
There were no events in January.
There were no events in February.
There were no events in March.
There were no events in April.
There were no events in May.
| Date and time | Event details | Type of event | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
|
21 June 2021 12:30pm | Armed Forces Day - Flying the Flag The Cenotaph, Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone | Invitation only | Julie Webb |
|
26 June 2021 11am | Armed Forces Day Town Hall, Hythe. This is a small event at the Undercroft which will be filmed and streamed live. | Invitation only | Terry Reene |
There were no events in July.
There were no events in August.
There were no events in September.
There were no events in October.
There were no events in November.
There were no events in December.