Armed Forces Day 2024: Events and ceremonies taking place across Greater Manchester including parades

Armed Forces Day is a chance for people to pay tribute to those men and women who serve in the armed forces both at home and overseas. The day is marked by people across the country, and plenty is planned across Greater Manchester. 

As well as serving armed forces personnel, the day is used to support the wider community. This includes veterans, cadets, reservists and all the families of those in the armed forces. We’ve rounded up the events that you can attend on June 29 across the region. These have been organised and are hosted by local councils. 

Manchester 

The Armed Forces Day 2024 commemoration in Manchester will take place on Saturday 29 June, 11am-4pm in St Peter’s Square.  Formal celebrations begin from 11.30am with a military parade and poignant performances from the Lancashire Artillery Band. 

Throughout the day, this free public event for visitors of all ages will feature live music also welcome face-painting for youngsters and an Army Light Gun will be on display.

Stockport 

After a parade that leaves St Peter’s Square at 10.45am, there will be a wide range of activities taking place in Stockport. 

These include Strawberry Radio stage in Market Place with live entertainment throughout the day culminating in the National Anthem led by Stockport Schools Brass Band at 4pm plus over 40 displays and replica military exhibitions and a trail around the Market Hall with a reward for all those who complete it.

Merseyway is hosting a large replica spitfire with children’s crafting sessions and vocal harmony group Diamond will be performing at 11am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm.

The Air Raid Shelters and Stockport Museum will also be open and at the museum children can design their very own medal for someone special, it’s free and there's no need to book in advance.

At this year's event, a new exciting QR trail is being launched. Stockport Normandy Veterans Legacy have worked with the Digiknow team and Stockport Council to set up a WW2 QR Trail around Stockport for Families and a QR Quest for Young People between 11 and 15. 

Taking between one and two hours to complete, the trails use What3Words as location references with families having to answer quiz questions at each location. Anyone interested in doing the trail should visit Stockport Normandy Veterans Legacy Stall in the Market Place.

Tameside

Proceedings on Armed Forces Day in Tameside start at noon when the Civic Mayor, Cllr Betty Affleck, hosts a veterans’ lunch at Denton Civic Square where she and other dignitaries will offer personal thanks to those who have served in the forces. From 1 to 4pm, the usual festival of fun and entertainment takes place around the bandstand in Victoria Park.

As well as live music, there will be dance displays by local schools, and a range of activities for children and adults alike, including climbing walls, inflatable axe throwing, face painting, arts, crafts and much more.

Also in attendance will be support services and community organisations, showing how they can offer assistance. Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon from Victoria Park Community Centre.