FINAL preparations are being made for the seventh annual Armed Forces Day in Scarborough on Saturday.

An action packed programme of events awaits the crowds that are expected to flock to the coastal town to pay tribute to the UK Armed Forces and share in the day’s celebrations.

The day runs from 10am to 5pm starting with the opening of the Vintage Village on Sandside and musical accompaniment from Scarborough Fair Organ playing 1940s melodies. The official civic welcome and presentations will take place at noon at the formal area in Foreshore Road. Also at 10am will be the start of this year’s North Sea Yacht Race, officiated by BBC Look North’s Harry Gration.

In a late addition to the programme, the Avro Vulcan XH558, the oldest complete Vulcan in the world, will make its second visit to Scarborough for a final farewell flypast at 1.25pm as part of a national programme of ‘Salute the V-Force’ appearances to celebrate its very last year of flight.

The day’s star attraction will be the world’s only aerobatic formation wingwalking team, the Breitling Wingwalkers, who will take to the skies at 3.30pm to perform a breathtaking sequence of acrobatic manoeuvres and handstands while strapped to the top wings of the team’s beautiful Boeing Stearman 1940s biplanes.

 

Military families visiting Scarborough on the day are welcome to visit the Heroes Welcome tent opposite the RNLI lifeboat station (adjacent to the seafood stalls) to claim a resort hosting pack, which will contain lots of freebies and special offers (Armed Forces identification will be required).

Armed Forces Day 2015 is sponsored by First Transpennine Express, Ministry of Defence and Scarborough Borough Council.

On Saturday, many of the visiting Armed Forces personnel and their families will attend a spectacular Last Night of the Proms concert at Scarborough Open Air Theatre, featuring Britain's favourite tenor Alfie Boe and Military Wives Choirs York. The concert has been planned specifically to coincide with Armed Forces Day.

More details about the concert and how to purchase tickets can be found at scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Before the concert at 6pm, Peasholm Park is putting on a special evening display of its famous miniature sea battle, Naval Warfare. Tickets are available at the park from 5pm.

To allow the event to go ahead, Foreshore Road and Sandside will be closed in both directions from 7am to 7pm between Aquarium Top and Luna Park roundabouts including the bottom part of Eastborough (from the Train Shop down to Foreshore Road). Eastborough car park, West Pier car park and Quay Street car park will also be closed.

The diversion route for traffic arriving from the south of Scarborough and wishing to travel to the North Bay or park on Marine Drive will be via Vernon Road, Falconers Road, St Nicholas Street, St Thomas Street, North Marine Road, Peasholm Road, Peasholm Gap, and Royal Albert Drive.