Victory in Europe (VE) Day 80 

Victory in Europe (VE Day) takes place on 8 May and commemorates the Allied victory in Europe in 1945. The war in the Far East did not end until 15 August 1945 with VJ Day (Victory Over Japan).

Events to mark VE Day 80 will take place over four days, beginning on the early May bank holiday. 

• Monday 5 May
  • How to get involved
  • Street parties
  • Holding an event
• Tuesday 6 May
• Wednesday 7 May
• Thursday 8 May

For more details on the national events taking place, see the government's accouncement .

For the latest information and ways to get involved, visit the dedicated interactive website .

Monday 5 May:

• The Cenotaph, the nation's focal point of remembrance, will be dressed in Union Flags for the duration of the four day commemorations 
• A military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace will be followed by a flypast of current and historic military aircraft
• A street party on HMS Belfast will be held
• Street parties, barbecues and community get togethers will be held by communities across the country

How to get involved

The bank holiday, Monday 5 May, has been officially designated the day for community celebrations. To celebrate VE Day 80 you could:

• Organise a street party 
• Organise an event in your community
• Host a get-together at home
• Pay tribute to those that served by visiting a war memorial . Details of Fareham's war memorials can be found here and memorial benches in tribute to VE Day and VJ Day are situated in Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Park at Daedalus. 
• Explore the ways in which veteran and armed forces personnel are supported. There is some excellent, specialist support available for them to help individual needs.

If you're holding an event you can add the details to the VE Day 80 website , where you can also search for events taking place in your area. Get everything you need, including invitations, logos, bunting and a guide to holding your event by downloading the VE Day 80 tookit .

You could also take part in Tip Top Towns by sharing your pictures across your social media channels using #VE80, or submitting your pictures to the VE Day 80 website . You might even be featured on the VE and VJ Day map ! You can find further ideas for activities by visiting the Together website .

Later in the year, the Victory Festival (VF25) will be taking place at Solent Airport. Organised by Monserrat Events, this three-day event over 19 to 21 September celebrates the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Days with air display, funfair rides, children's entertainment, arena displays, enhanced flight line and viewing area, and live music. The event starts on Friday 19 September with the Big Band Night. More information and tickets can be found here . Early bird tickets are available until 30 April 2025.

Street parties

If you are interested in holding a street party to celebrate Victory in Europe (VE) Day 80, please first refer to the guidance issued by central government . 

If you are planning on having your party in a public street you should first contact the Council to confirm that the street is suitable. 

Contact the Licensing Team on 01329 824399 or via email at licensingofficers@fareham.gov.uk. 

The Council will only permit closures where:

• The street is a lightly trafficked minor residential road, and not normally used by through traffic
• No access will be required to adjacent shops, businesses and services during the event
• There is a suitable alternative route for vehicles to use without the need for traffic diversions
• The closure will not create traffic issues elsewhere, and 
• It will not inconvenience other people

A cul de sac or short crescent is likely to be ideal for street parties. In this type of road you will not have to consult people beyond your own street, and you will not need a traffic management plan or traffic diversions.

Please note that you will be responsible for providing (and funding) any signage or barriers as the Council is not able to provide them for you. 

Should you decide to go ahead and organise a street party, please fill in the Street Party - application form (82 KB), and submit it to: licensingofficers@fareham.gov.uk.  The cut-off date for applications for Street Parties in residential roads requiring road closures will be Friday 25 April 2025.  This is to provide Legal, Highways and the Police with sufficient notice of planned events/closures and ensure that there is enough time to get road closure orders drawn up, sealed and distributed to applications.

It is not necessary to seek permission for parties that do not require road closures.

Holding an event in Fareham

If you would like to hold an event on an open space in Fareham, please see the guidance here.

Tuesday 6 May

• An installation of ceramic poppies will return to the Tower of London to mark the anniversary
• Historic landmarks across the UK will be lit up in the evening

Wednesday 7 May

• To commemorate the announcement of VE Day, the Parliament Choir will host a Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert in the famous Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster

Thursday 8 May

• A service will take place at Westminster Abbey 
• Events will conclude with a concert at the historic Horseguards Parade

See the government's website for more detailed information of the events taking place over the four days .