Wartime festival Salute to the ‘40s returns to the Historic Dockyard Chatham for 2024

A retro festival inspired by the likes of Vera Lynn and Glenn Miller returns to one of Kent’s biggest attractions.

The bustling Salute to the ‘40s event is back at the Historic Dockyard Chatham for two days of jazz and big band music, swing dancers, wartime storytelling and behind-the-scenes tours.

The annual weekender is a much-visited event for the maritime attraction, drawing in thousands of people who wish to be transported back to the sights and sounds of the 1940s.

This year, there’s live music on the main stage from the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Britain’s Got Talent finalists the D-Day Darlings, jazz musician Randolph Matthews, vocal group Bluebird Belles and local community choir Medway Can Sing.

As the festival has grown over the years, organisers have added a second stage, named the Matador Stage, which will host performers like jazz duo Side By Side, the Brompton Military Wives Choir and DJ Reverend Boogie and DJ Miss Aloha who will be spinning tunes and giving dance lessons.

This year, the event will also debut its ‘floating entertainment’ where acts will put on on-the-spot performances and activities for families.

Watch Rimski and Handkerchief show off their whimsical music machines, marvel at the circus stunts from Pirates of the Carabina, blow bubbles of all shapes and sizes with the Bubble Wizard and hear interactive stories from the Blitz by Dragonfly Tales.

Also new for this year is a one-hour and 20-minute tour from the dockyard’s Thunderbolt Pier to Upnor Castle and back aboard the Sailing Barge Greta. The sailing tours will take place at regular intervals on both days of the festival.

Visitors can also enjoy a taster tour of the Call the Midwife set, which is filmed at the attraction; afternoon tea in the Commissioner’s House, the oldest intact naval building in the country; Jeep tours along the riverside; and the immersive air raid shelter experience.

Salute to the ‘40s takes place at the Historic Dockyard Chatham on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15. You can book tickets online here.

Adult tickets cost £29. The event is not included in a standard ticket to the dockyard and must be purchased separately.