Aberdeen’s Armed Forces Day parade will be held on Saturday 01 July, one week after the UK Armed Forces Day.
Aberdeen has a packed programme of events taking place this summer including the 2023 European Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 24 June hence the city’s Armed Forces Day parade will be held on the following Saturday.
To be part of Armed Forces Day local councils, voluntary and community organisations must hold their Armed Forces Day events within two weeks of the national day (Saturday 24 June).
On Friday 23 June, ahead of the UK Armed Forces Day, the Lord Provost will raise the official Armed Forces Day Flag outside Marischal College at 10am. The flag will remain in place until Monday 03 July 2023.
On Saturday 01 July, residents and visitors alike are invited to watch Aberdeen’s Armed Forces Day parade, which will include more than 1,000 serving, veteran and cadet force personnel parading through the city centre, where they will be joined by massed pipes and drums and vintage military vehicles.
The parade begins at 11am at Albyn Place and then heads down Union Street to the Castlegate.
As the parade passes the Town House, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Dr David Cameron, in his role of Lord-Lieutenant, will take the salute along with top military personnel.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen Dr Cameron said: “The Armed Forces Day parade provides an opportunity for spectators from every generation to pay tribute to, and thank, our British Armed Forces personnel for the commitment and hard work they undertake all year round for the benefit of our whole country.
“By raising the official Armed Forces Day flag on Friday 23 June, the City of Aberdeen will pay tribute and respect to the national Armed Forces Day for more than a week, which is fitting for a city that is recognised as an Armed Forces Friendly City and is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant.”