Communities across Wales prepare to honour VE Day 80 with street parties and shared memories

Wales prepares for historic VE Day 80th anniversary with nationwide commemorations and community-led celebrations spanning the first week of May 2025. Communities across the country will honor the Allies’ formal acceptance of Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, through events starting with the early May bank holiday, including Cardiff Castle’s free family picnic on May 5 featuring live music, craft activities, and walkabout entertainers. A dedicated VE Day website now centralizes event listings, while the Welsh Government encourages residents to host street parties, with many councils waiving road closure fees for non-commercial gatherings provided applications are submitted by mid-April.
First Minister Eluned Morgan has called for nationwide participation in festivities aligned with the Great British Food Festival, urging collective remembrance of the sacrifices made during World War II. Historic UK landmarks will illuminate on May 6 as a prelude to the main commemorations on May 8, when towns nationwide will join ceremonies including beacon lightings at 9:30 PM and communal hymn singing of I Vow To Thee My Country. Cardiff residents can secure free street party permits by emailing highways authorities before April 22, part of council efforts to foster unity through shared reflection.
The National Memorial Arboretum’s May 8 service for WWII veterans and families will stream publicly, mirroring Wales’ hybrid approach of ticketed and open-access events. While specific Welsh activities remain under development, authorities confirm upcoming plans for August’s VJ Day 80th anniversary marking Japan’s surrender. From producer markets in Llandovery to Bristol’s Kingswood picnic concert, cross-border collaborations emphasize the UK-wide scope of tributes. “This anniversary reminds us to cherish peace,” stated a VE Day organizer, reflecting the campaign’s focus on intergenerational remembrance.
Cardiff Council’s Jennifer Burke emphasized the Castle event’s role in honoring wartime sacrifices, stating, “It’s a significant moment to unite in gratitude”5. Nationwide, May 8 will feature town crier proclamations at 9 AM, pipers on peaks at noon, and cathedral bell-ringing at 6:30 PM before the beacon lighting ritual symbolizing peace’s triumph over darkness. The Royal British Legion’s commemorative tea party for veterans at 2 PM precedes a 4 PM public service, with overflow viewing in Heroes’ Square. Updates on local activities can be found through the VE Day 80 website and council newsletters.