Liberation Day 2013
Thursday 9 May 2013 will mark the 68th anniversary of the Liberation of Guernsey from the occupying German Forces after five long dark years. Liberation Day continues to be an important and poignant day in the history of the Island. Families, friends and visitors to Guernsey celebrate the priceless concept of freedom and enjoy a day filled with the pageantry of Church and Military Vehicle parades as well as wide range of entertainment and activity for all age groups.
Planning is well underway for the 2013 Liberation Celebrations and this website will be regularly updated as each entertainment and activity is confirmed for both Liberation Day itself and the days leading up to Liberation Day.
Similarly, the search is underway for local bands to perform in the annual LibRock concert that takes place on Albert Pier from 6pm to 11pm and which climaxes in the Liberation firework display. The organisers of the Liberation Celebrations would be interested to hear from any local band that would like to take part. Please email info@eventguernsey.com or call + 44 (0) 1481 728686.
2012 saw a record number of local Guernsey charities participating in the annual Liberation Celebrations and if you know of a local charity that would like to associate itself with an entertainment or activity or has a charitable fund raising project of its own that could be incorporated into the Celebrations programme, then do let the organisers know by emailing charlotte@eventguernsey.com
2013 marks the first year in a three year programme leading up to the 70th Liberation Celebrations in 2015. New initiatives are being planned for this year’s Liberation Celebrations and for up to date news and detailed information, do add this page to your Favourites and also visit the Liberation Celebrations on Facebook at Guernsey Liberation Day.
To view the 2013 souvenir programme, click here 
Liberation Day 2012 - Look Back
Wednesday 9 May 2012, Guernsey's Liberation Day, saw thousands of islanders and visitors in St. Peter Port enjoying the day's events that started with the Inter-Island Schools Relay Race and the Liberation Church Parade.
In recent years, the Liberation Church Parade has attracted an ever larger crowd with spectators lining the sea-front wall from the Weighbridge Roundabout to the Albert Memorial. This year's Church Parade including local Guernseyman Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Vaudin who is on his way to command the 2nd Signal regiment in Afghanistan. Other participants in the Liberation Church Parade included the Ghurkas, Chelsea In-Pensioners, Veterans and all the Standards. The Liberation Church Parade was commanded by Major Bob Place MBE (Ret'd) and led by Guernsey Concert Brass.
The Liberation Service in the Town Church then followed and was for the first time broadcast on to the giant screen on Albert Pier so that everyone outside could enjoy the hymns, readings, prayers and sermon.
The weather was kind with the rain staying away for the duration of the day enabling families and friends to spend relaxing time enjoying the music, entertainment, dance and range of activities that were laid out on Crown and Albert Pier.
2012 Liberation Day saw many more charities getting involved with the Celebrations including Young People Guernsey, the British Red Cross, St John's Ambulance & Rescue Service, Bridge to Haiti and Sri Lanka, Girlguiding Guernsey, Les Bourgs Hospice, Sausmarez Playground Project, Child Contact Centre, Channel Island Air Search, Guernsey Literary Festival. Aid Reaching Children, the Royal British Legion and Help A Guernsey Child.
To view a gallery of images, do visit the Gallery section of this website.
The annual Liberation Celebrations take nine months to plan and the breadth of entertainment and activities would not be possible without the support and commitment from local businesses within the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Culture and Leisure Department, States of Guernsey, would like to sincerely thank all those companies who gave support this year and to view them, please go to the Sponsors section at the top of this page.
Whilst St. Peter Port remained dry during the day, it certainly wasn't in the evening with heavy rain from 6.30pm onwards. This, however, did not detract from the enjoyment of people watching and dancing to the brilliant musical talent of Dealers' Left, Last of the Light Brigade, Sons of the Desert and The States who all performed on Centre Stage on Albert Pier.
The traditional Liberation Day fireworks display lit up the skies above St. Peter Port exactly on time at 10.05pm and finished at 10.12pm.
An extraordinary and remarkable day for all the right reasons.
If you were at the 2012 Liberation Celebrations and have any feedback, please do email them to info@eventguernsey.com The organisers would also like to hear from anyone who has ideas about future Liberation Celebrations in Guernsey especially as the 70th anniversary gets ever closer in 2015.