Residents invited to attend Lee military festival
By Connor Steel
LOCAL RESIDENTS have been invited to attend a ‘community event’ to be held in Lee-on-the-Solent late this month to commemorate Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan days; the three-day weekend occasion also offering education on Armed Forces contributions to its past conflicts and enjoyment for visitors with an exciting range of activities scheduled.
This Lee Victory Festival has been organised by Monserrat Events and is also supported by Fareham Borough Council to take place over the weekend of September 22 to 24 from the ‘Daedalus Airfield’. And organisers are hoping the 2023 edition follows the successful running of the last occasion, which drew big crowds to the High Street and nearby routes.
Gates will open from 4pm on September 22 (Friday) and close at 10pm on September 24 (Sunday), with a wide variety of activities due to feature on all three days. This includes live performances from local talents and themed acts all due to showcase their dance / music skills; whilst a selection of funfair attractions, stalls, food and vendors will all be onsite.
Attractions will further include static military vehicles and aircraft on the field that will be able to visit throughout the ‘big’ weekend; whilst Living History groups will recreate the days of World War Two and the aftermath. The Last Post is also due to be played at 8pm on all three days, acting as a symbol of remembrance and thank you for our British personnel.
Although this event is ticketed, (more information below) residents are invited to attend a military parade from 10am on Saturday (September 23); which will feature veterans, vehicles and military ceremony. This will follow a’ 1.1 mile route’ through Lee-on-the-Solent and this is FREE for everybody to watch across the area; the main event starting from 1pm.
There is another “free event” due to take place at St Faiths Church on Sunday morning, which will see a church service from 10am and everybody is invited to attend. At the airfield there is due to be a planned BBMF fly-past later in the day with residents invited to watch from the sea-front if they don’t have a ticket for the main events (UK weather permitting).
Tickets must be brought individually for each day and cost £13 for each adult whilst senior entries will be priced at £10. The fee also applies for serving military and veterans; whilst children aged between 5-14 should pay £4 for each ticket purchased. Children under five enter for free whilst VIP upgrades cost £25 with prices including “VAT” charged at 20%.
Parking will be available on each day for a cost of £5 and can be purchased alongside the tickets; these spaces found within a designated car park area based at Daedalus Drive (Gate 5). An event programme can further be purchased in advance for £3 and this can be collected from the Event Tent on site through all three days providing tickets are shown.
Further information on this event, including frequently answered questions, can be seen via this link whilst tickets must be brought here. Specific queries can be sent on the form on the website or calling 07710 107231 as soon as possible.
PICTURED BY LEE VICTORY FESTIVAL: Gates and activities before opening the three day event in September 2021.
