Armed Forces Day 2025

Saturday 21 June 2025

Ards Airfield, Newtownards | 10.30am - 5pm

This event is free to attend, no ticket is required, however there will be a small charge for some activities and onsite car parking. Food and drinks will be available to purchase.

See below for 2025 event details, including | Armed Forces Day Plan Your Trip | Armed Forces Day Frequently Asked Questions | Armed Forces Day Site Description

Ulster Flying Club Ards Airfield, Newtownards will be transformed into a vibrant hub of activity to honour the Armed Forces community. Join us for a day dedicated to the people who make up the Armed Forces community, with displays, exhibits, family friendly activities and more; a great day out for all.

View Event Programme 

Armed Forces Day will commemorate VE80 throughout the day, including an aerial display from the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, NI War Memorial exhibits, themed 1940s themed music and dancing and a spectacular line up of aerial and on ground military displays. 

Visitors to Newtownards can enjoy breathtaking aerial displays, a military parade and a host of family friendly entertainment, cookery demonstrations and technical challenges when Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day 2025 (AFD25) comes to the town in June.

Ards and North Down Borough Council will host the national event on Saturday 21 June 2025 at Newtownards Airfield. It will give visitors an insight into the work of the Armed Forces – Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force – as well as celebrating and honouring those who serve and have served.

It has been confirmed that the aerial display on the day will include the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the UK’s premier military parachute display team, the Falcons. The much loved and revered Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will also be in the skies on 21 June – the only Northern Ireland display in their calendar this year.

The event will start at 10:30am with a band performance and the Official Regional Armed Forces Day military parade through Newtownards will step off at 10:30am from The Cenotaph, Court Square with military bands and over 400 military personnel in attendance making their way to Newtownards Airfield.  The parade will conclude with a Drumhead Service, Flag Raising and Gun Salute at the main event site at Newtownards Airfield. 

This will be followed by a special Drumhead Service and Flag Raising at Ards Airfield. UTV presenter, Paul Clarke, will act as compere and talk visitors through the programme, which will include musical performances from the Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums Royal Irish Regiment.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a programme of military activity that wouldn’t normally be seen by the public, see Event Programme, as well as:

Music provided by

• Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment)
• Pipes and Drums from Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG)
• Pipes and Drums from Campbell College Belfast Combined Cadet Force (CCB CCF)
• Pipes and Drums from 502 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Stem Tent

Visit the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) tent for lots of family activities.

• Explore the depths of the universe with Armagh Planetarium and find out just how complicated or not rocket science really is with Ulster Rocketry.
• Discover what lies beneath Strangford Lough with Ulster Wildlife and Queens Marine Laboratory.
• Have a go at being a cyber security expert, or chill out at one of the Lego™ stations – designed for children of all ages.
• Even better, all the activities in the STEM tent are free!

Plus...

• All the fun of the fair with funfair favourites
• On ground aircraft displays 
• Live music throughout the day
• Food Village, with over 30 food and drink vendors and a variety of local craft stalls
• Live cooking demos in the SERC Demo Kitchen

The event will close in style with a Beating Retreat at 4pm.

This event is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council in partnership with the UK Armed Forces - The Royal Navy, The British Army and Royal Air Force. 

Please note:

- Events are subject to change. Aerial displays are weather dependant.

-This event is a no unauthorised drone zone. Only official event drones authorised by the event organisers are permitted. 

For further Information check

Drone Safety Map | Altitude Angel

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Sustainability
Ards and North Down Borough Council is committed to reducing our carbon footprint. We encourage visitors to travel via public transport, there are fresh water stations on site bring along refillable water bottles, reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event and please dispose rubbish in the correct bins when on-site.

Read more about Sustainability.