Town will get chance to host national Armed Forces Day

Scarborough will get its chance to host the national Armed Forces Day celebration after this year’s event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the town will be home to the prestigious event in 2021.

The planning for this year’s event, due to take place on June 26 to 28, was well underway when the pandemic struck.

Scarborough Borough Council has now been officially informed that there will not be an attempt to hold the 2020 event later this year.

Scarborough’s right to host the event will instead move to the weekend of June 25 to 27 2021.

The council has welcomed the news and as soon as practicable, it will resume its planning for the event with the Ministry of Defence, other key partners and sponsors.

The national event attracts around 200,000 visitors of all ages during the course of the weekend.

It boasts an action-packed event programme, including spectacular air and ground displays and an extensive military parade. Previous national events have attracted people from across the country and beyond, including VIP guests such as members of the Royal family and prime ministers.

The Red Arrows had already been confirmed as the headline air display for the 2020 event. The council has said it will look to secure the crowd-pulling display team for next year.

Cllr Tony Randerson,

The Red Arrows at a previous Scarborough Armed Forces Day.

Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member with responsibility for the delivery of the event, said: “We are disappointed that this year’s event will not go ahead, but everyone involved in the planning and organising of the weekend fully understands the seriousness of the situation our coun

try is currently facing and the changes we must make to help prevent the spread of the virus.

“We’re delighted for the opportunity to host the 2021 event instead. As soon as the current situation allows us to, we will get back to planning a spectacular event to make