On Thursday May 9^th 2019, Guernsey celebrates Liberation Day and 74 years since the end of the Nazi occupation of our island for five years over the course of World War II.

Liberation Day marks the end of our island’s annual Heritage Festival, and is an incredibly important and poignant date in Guernsey’s calendar; it is a day to reflect upon the hardships endured and sacrifices made during those dark years, and to celebrate and enjoy our liberation and freedom.

This year is the first of three Liberation Days to be organised by EC Events, who surveyed islanders at the end of 2018 to hear about the sort of Liberation Day celebrations that they wanted. 

‘These celebrations are about the island of Guernsey and the organisers would like to include the islanders in the plans for the day as much as possible,’

EC Events

Festivities will again focus around Albert Pier in St Peter Port where the Home Front Marquee will be located, culminating in a fireworks display over the harbour and Castle Cornet in the evening.  There will be the traditional parade, church service and cavalcade, as well as a host of children’s activities, live music, food and drink.  The day’s key events and timings are as follows:

• 9am – Guernsey Schools Relay Race
• 9.40am – Liberation Parade ‘fall in’ at North Beach
• 11am – Town Church Service
• 10.30am - 4.30pm Waitrose NAAFI Tea Tent on Albany
• 12 noon – 10.30pm – Live Music and Entertainment in Home Front Marquee
• 2.30pm - Cavalcade
• 2pm – 5pm – Liberation Day Music at the Castle
• 4pm - 10.30pm - Randalls Beer tent open
• 5pm – Band of the Royal Armoured Corps. – Home Front Marquee
• 9.30pm – Fireworks Display

You can view a full programme of events on the Guernsey Liberation Day website.  If you’re staying at the Bella Luce or you visit to Guernsey falls over Liberation Day on May 9th then this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an additional May Bank Holiday and experience a celebratory day unique to Guernsey.

Images by Chris George