People from across the region have been thanked for supporting the 2025 North West Armed Forces Festival in Southport.
This growing event was held at locations across the town on Saturday 28th June and Sunday 29th June in celebration of our Armed Forces past and present.
People enjoyed watching Frontline Sounds, featuring The Status Quo Experience and local rockers Incipio, at Adventure Coast Southport on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, Southport was packed with families with lots to enjoy.
Reverend Ben Dyer led a Drumhead Service in the Town Hall Gardens, before a military parade from the town centre to Kings Gardens. The parade was supported by wagons from a number of local haulage firms.
Marchers passed VIPs including Merseyside Lord Lieutenant Mark Blundell; Mayor of Sefton June Burns; Southport Royal British Chairman Major Nick McEntee; President Serena Silcock-Prince; Southport Town Crier Kevin Ruane; and seven-year-old Frank Gates, known as ‘Frank The Soldier’, who has more than 360,000 followers on TikTok and over 10 million likes through his love of the military and especially the King’s Guards.
Veterans and cadets were then inspected as they stood at the start of Southport Pier.
The Atkinson hosted a 1940s fashion show organised by Angela Brown with hair and make-up by Element 5 in Southport.
The day there started with a Ukrainian Choir, with talks including: ‘My Accidental Life’ by Harry Kessler – the incredible story of a Jewish Holocaust survivor; ‘Who Knew Halina?’ by Dagmara Wojciechowicz; ‘I shouldn’t be here’ by Kris Wojtek; and ‘Yanks by the Seaside’ by Euan Withersby.
Outside The Atkinson were vehicles from The Military Vehicle Trust, interactive stands celebrating the Home Guard, and Spitfire craft activity with James Clare.
Following the Drumhead Service and parade, there were several static displays and activities taking place throughout the day in King’s Gardens in Southport. These included: military recruiting displays and stands; Cadet Force stands; musical entertainment on stage; military vehicle displays; craft stalls; fairground rides; paintball range; inflatables and more.
On the Promenade, families were wowed by a recently restored 1902 Gavioli fairground organ outside Silcock’s Funland.
A spokesperson for the Southport Royal British Legion said: “After a weekend full of pride, joy, and community spirit, we want to take a moment to say a huge and heartfelt thank you.
“Thank you to the glorious weather (yes, even that deserves a mention!) — and above all, thank you to every single person who came out over the past few days to support, celebrate, and honour our Armed Forces community here in Southport and beyond.
“But most importantly — thank you to the people who came to our town for the day.
“Southport needed a day like this. A day to come together. To show who we are when we’re at our best — welcoming, proud, united. A reminder that Southport is a place to bring your family, to enjoy, to connect, and to feel proud of.
“From the doors of The Atkinson, down Lord Street, along Nevill Street, onto the Promenade and throughout Kings Gardens, respect, and connection was felt across the whole town.
“Thank you to every single person and business who gave their time, energy, or support. The biggest team effort and we could not have done this without you.
“Here’s to 2026 — bigger, bolder, and so Southport.
“Watch this space… but for now, thank you. Truly.”
Southport Armed Forces Day has now grown and evolved into the North West Armed Forces Festival, aiming to be the largest locally organised celebration of the Armed Forces in the UK.
This two-day event showcased the spirit of Southport and honoured our military through a variety of events.
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