Full details of Plymouth Hoe events for VE Day 80, Thursday May 8 2025
Eighty years ago, The Hoe was crowded with relieved city residents coming together to celebrate the end of five gruelling years of war in Europe. On Thursday (8 May) The Hoe will again be the scene of celebrations commemorating the VE Day anniversary.
Activities throughout the day will include picnics, stalls, live music, Commonwealth war graves tours and vintage vehicle displays.
The Government has announced a change of time for the national two-minute silence so Plymouth City Council has amended the schedule for the day - the event will now start with a flag-raising ceremony at 11.30am, followed by the two-minute silence at midday. The day will conclude with a beacon lighting at 8.40pm.
VE Day 80 activities are also take place at The Box, Central Library, Plymouth Market and Mount Edgcumbe.
Here is our guide - send us an email if you'd like your party or commemoration listed (and sent to our hundreds of email subscribers).
The Hoe
The day begins at 11.30am with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by a Full Parade of Standards and a Royal Navy Guard. This is then followed by a gun fire from the Royal Citadel at midday and a two-minute silence.
(NOTE: Plymouth Council originally published that the flag-raising would be at 1030am. However after Government advice that a national two-minute silence will be at midday, timings have changed.)
Entertainment starts from 12.30pm and runs until 5pm, with picnic benches, stalls, entertainment, and Commonwealth Wargraves Tours and vintage vehicles.
As the evening unfolds, a concert will begin at 5.30pm.
The day culminates with a Sunset Guard ceremony and the lighting of the Beacon at 8.40pm, a poignant moment to reflect on the significance of VE Day.
Evening Concert Programme:
5.45pm - 6.45pm | Sultans of The Swing Band
7pm - 8.15pm | Dave Hankin Big Band
8.55pm - 9.15pm | Dave Hankin Big Band Encore
There will be some catering units on site and the Promenade Café and Liner Lookout will be open as usual. There are Public Toilets by the Promenade Café (Ramp End) of the Hoe and some temporary facilities at the Elliot Terrace End of the Hoe.
Remembering Victory VE Day 80 at The Box
A special pop-up display will commemorate the occasion. The display is open on Saturday 10 May and will include images from the archives and selected items from the costume collection including their 'Dig for Victory' dress.
Commemoration at Mount Edgcumbe
The ceremony will take place at Barn Pool at 10.45am, with a 2 minute silence at 11am marked by the firing of field artillery.
Special VE day deals, 1940’s music and a large screen showing historical coverage.
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