Salute to the ‘40s Bows Out with Victory Lap

Pack up your troubles and join Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust in one final Salute.

The Salute to the ‘40s festival will return to The Historic Dockyard Chatham for one final time on 20 and 21 September in a powerful celebration to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

For nearly two decades this popular festival has brought the sights, sounds and spirit of the 1940’s to life. In 2025 it will bow out in true style, promising to be bigger and bolder than ever before. The finale will give visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to honour the wartime generation, celebrating the resilience, camaraderie and spirit that defined the era.

Visitors can expect all the traditional festival favourites from vintage performances and historic reenactments to classic cars, dancing and singing. To mark this milestone year, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is planning an unforgettable programme packed with special guests, and commemorative experiences. Headlining the weekend will be The D-Day Darlings, performing songs from their new album, and the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra.
A poignant centrepiece of the event will be “Threads of Remembrance,” a community tribute for VE Day 80. Featuring 11,000 handcrafted poppies, the installation honours the 11,000 lives lost on Destroyers during the Second World War.

Richard Morsley, Chief Executive, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust said: “The 1940s era shaped the world as we know it. As we commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War, it feels fitting to make this year’s Salute to the ‘40s the most memorable yet. After 18 wonderful years we are proud to close the chapter with a huge celebration. Looking ahead to the future we are exploring new opportunities
that support our charitable purpose and deliver sustainable impact.”

Get tickets

Tickets for the final Salute to the ‘40s are expected to sell out fast. Don’t miss your
chance to keep the home fires burning and boogie woogie at The Historic Dockyard
Chatham one more time.

Secure your tickets today at thedockyard.co.uk