Join us in Tavistock for the town's celebration of VE Day 80 on May 8th and a delightfully nostalgic programme of events, celebrating the end of WWII and honouring those who served.
What can you expect:
Tavistock Pannier Market will be open until 7pm, dressed in red, white & blue
Look out for Rosie Rainbow on her stilts in her VE colours 3:00, 4:30 & 6:30pm
Military vehicles on display in the Guildhall Car Park all afternoon
An exhibition telling the stores of Evacuees in Tavistock plus a dig for victory at Tavistock Museum.
Guildhall Main Stage Area
12:00, 1:30 & 2:45pm
3:40pm
2:00-6:00pm
3:45-4:15pm
4:15-5:20pm
5:30-6:15pm
7:15-8:00pm
Bedford Square
5:00-5:30pm
6:00-6:30pm
6:40-7:10pm
St Eustachius Lawn
3:30-5:30pm
6:30-6:40pm
Guildhall Gateway Centre
7:00-8:00pm
Vintage tunes with Louise Parker
Official Welcome with Tavistock Town Crier
Rainbow Circus CIC is on hand to provide circus workshops, VE themed crafts and glitter tattoos (*small charge)
Family Fun with the Mini Tank Street Theatre
Join hapless Whose Army, General Motors and Private Parts as they
blunder from one mishap to another
Choirs from local Primary Schools entertain us with special songs for the VE Day Anniversary
Get up and dancing to swing tunes that were popular on VE Day
Our Swing Band return for their last set of the day
The Mini Tank Street Theatre rolls out for a second performance on Bedford Square
Don’t miss the Mini Tank Street Theatre as they perform their last sketches of the day
The Army Corp of Drums leads a Parade of Army, RAF & Combined Cadets honouring those who served in WWII
Bring your teddies along for the ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ – prizes to be had for Best Dressed, Oldest and Fancy Dress. Picnic boxes available from Mime on Bedford Square.
Peel of Bells
Talk by Stephen Fryer: RAF Harrowbeer, Yelverton’s WWII airfield
Take part in our VE Day Poster Competition
The 8th May is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe during World War 2. This was a very significant day in history.
Children from school years 2-6 are invited to take part in a creative competition to design a VE Day Poster. The winner will be given the opportunity to light the town’s Lamp Light of Peace alongside the official beacon at 9:30pm on Whitchurch Down. All entries will be displayed in Tavistock Museum.
Design a poster expressing what VE Day means to you today, how you think the day might have been celebrated back in 1945 or telling a story of what life may have been like for those experiencing WWII - servicemen who fought, children who were evacuated or women on the home front.
Join the Discovery Team at the Guildhall Gateway Centre on Weds April 9th from 10am-1pm for some hints and tips.
To enter, please send your design to janna@tavistockbid.co.uk or drop it into Tavistock Museum.
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