Retro festival Salute to the ‘40s set to end after 18 years at the Historic Dockyard Chatham

Organisers of a retro festival have announced that this year’s event will be its final hurrah.

The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, which hosts the annual Salute to the ‘40s festival each September, is calling time on the popular event after almost 20 years.

This year’s weekender is set to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – and the team at the Dockyard say it feels like a ‘fitting’ time to throw its final 1940s celebration.

Richard Morsley, chief executive at the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “The 1940s era shaped the world as we know it. As we commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War, it feels fitting to make this year’s Salute to the ‘40s the most memorable yet.

“After 18 wonderful years, we are proud to close the chapter with a huge celebration. Looking ahead to the future, we are exploring new opportunities that support our charitable purpose and deliver sustainable impact.”

This year’s jam-packed event is set to feature vintage performances from live musicians, dancers and singers, including the D-Day Darlings and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

There will also be historic re-enactments, classic cars, military vehicles, a retro marketplace and an immersive air raid shelter experience.

A commemorative exhibition named Threads of Remembrance will also be on display. The installation will boast 1,000 handcrafted poppies to honour the 11,000 lives lost on destroyers during the Second World War.

The final Salute to the ‘40s festival will take place on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. You can book tickets here.

Adult tickets cost £29 in advance or £32 on the door, however, tickets are expected to sell out quickly for this event.