Crowds on the Yorkshire coast will have aircraft overhead, marching bands on the ground and a veterans’ parade through Scarborough when Armed Forces Day returns on Saturday, 27 June.
The free public event runs from 11am to 5pm in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire Council says it is aimed at residents, visitors, families, veterans, service families, cadets and anyone who wants to show support for the Armed Forces community.
The day starts at 11am and runs through the afternoon
Armed Forces Day Scarborough is being hosted by North Yorkshire Council as part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. The council expects thousands of people to visit the resort for a programme built around flypasts, parades, military displays, music and family activities.
Council leader Cllr Carl Les said the event was a show of “unity, pride and community spirit”, bringing together currently serving troops, service families, veterans and cadets.
For readers comparing Armed Forces Day events elsewhere, demoduck.co.uk has also covered a free Armed Forces Day programme in Wolverhampton.
Air display times confirmed for Scarborough seafront crowds
The flying programme is one of the main reasons many visitors plan their day around the event. Six displays are listed for Saturday, with the RAF Chinook opening the schedule and the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 closing the afternoon’s air displays.
| Time | Scheduled display |
|---|---|
| 11.30am | RAF Chinook flypast |
| 11.40am | RAF Tutor T Mark 1 precision display |
| 1.30pm | Hawker Fury display |
| 2.30pm | Calidus AutoGyro display |
| 3.30pm | RAF Supermarine Spitfire display |
| 4.05pm | RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 display |
The Chinook flypast is due to kick off the day’s air programme. The aircraft is described by the council as one of the RAF’s most recognisable aircraft, capable of carrying up to 55 troops or heavy cargo loads.
The afternoon then moves through historic and specialist aircraft before the Spitfire appears at 3.30pm. The final listed display is the RAF Typhoon, described in the event details as the headline display, with its speed and agility expected to draw attention late in the day.
Parades, bands and cadets on the ground
The programme is not limited to the skies. North Yorkshire Council says the day will include traditional military marches, band displays, presentations and live music throughout the afternoon.
Scarborough Sea Cadets are among those due to perform. Veterans, standards and cadets’ parades will be led by the Queen’s Own Yeomanry and the Yorkshire Volunteers Band.
This year’s attractions also include a Chelsea Pensioners display, which the council says will be their first appearance at Scarborough Armed Forces Day.
A large veterans’ parade is part of the main Saturday programme, giving the event its ceremonial centre as well as its family and aviation appeal.
Why the county has a strong Armed Forces link
The Scarborough celebration sits in a county with a large military footprint. North Yorkshire has more than 12,000 people working for the Ministry of Defence and 3,000 children from service families in schools, according to the council.
Catterick Garrison is one of the country’s largest military bases. The county also has barracks at Dishforth, Ripon and Topcliffe, as well as Royal Air Force stations at Leeming, Fylingdales and Menwith Hill. The Army Foundation College is based in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire was also one of the first places in the UK to have an Armed Forces Covenant, which is intended to support access to services for military personnel and veterans across the public and private sectors.
Cllr Kevin Foster, the council’s Armed Forces champion, said the event gives residents and visitors a chance to show appreciation for serving personnel, veterans, cadets and their families.
Opening flag-raising takes place before the main event
The main Scarborough Armed Forces Day programme takes place on Saturday, 27 June, from 11am to 5pm. Entry is free and the event is public.
Ahead of the Saturday celebration, Army Cadets will lead a flag-raising at Scarborough Town Hall on Monday, 22 June. North Yorkshire Council says that ceremony will mark the official opening of the event.
Scarborough’s Armed Forces Day is sponsored by Skipton Building Society for the second year running.
Source: North Yorkshire Council
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on North Yorkshire Council’s published schedule for Armed Forces Day Scarborough.
- Confirmed the event date as Saturday, 27 June 2026.
- Checked the public event time as 11am to 5pm.
- Matched the six listed air display times to the council schedule.
- Kept venue, booking, transport and accessibility details limited to what was provided.
- Source
- North Yorkshire Council
- Scope
- Scarborough
- Updated
- 2026-06-06 22:24
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