This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War, with commemorations planned to honour both Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day.
Thursday 8th May 2025 will be exactly 80 years since VE Day, which signalled the end of the war in Europe. VJ Day, commemorated on 15th August, marks Japan’s surrender and the end of the conflict in the east.
Host a community food festival
To celebrate the anniversary, the Isle of Wight council is encouraging residents to come together for a Great British Food Festival on bank holiday Monday 5th May.
Friends, families and neighbours are invited to mark the occasion by hosting picnics, beach gatherings or parties in local parks.
To help make these events easier to organise, the council will waive land hire fees for community groups, including town, parish and community councils.
Support for local organisers
A downloadable toolkit is available to help organisers plan their events: Toolkit – VE and VJ Day 80.
Natasha Dix, Service Director for Waste, Environment and Planning, said,
“Parties like this are a great opportunity for communities to come together.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for organised groups to hold a party to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
She added,
“For anyone organised groups wishing to hold a party in a local park or at the beach on bank holiday Monday 5th May simply visit Amenity land hire and submit your request to the council one month before the date of your event.”
The council reminds residents that if you’re gathering informally with just a few friends or family members, no permission is needed—just enjoy the day and take care of your surroundings.
Respect the outdoors
The council urges everyone to leave outdoor spaces as they found them.
All rubbish should be put in bins or taken home for disposal.
While land hire fees will be waived, statutory licensing fees still apply.
Fire safety and waste tips
The council strongly advises against the use of disposable barbeques. These pose a high fire risk, reaching temperatures of 400°C and taking hours to cool down. They are banned in many parks and beaches on the Island.
Instead, residents are encouraged to bring picnics and consider eco-friendly choices. Use recyclable cups, paper plates, and wooden cutlery where possible.
Bottles and cans should be washed, squashed, and placed in recycling bins. Cardboard boxes can be flattened and placed with recycling or taken to local recycling centres.
Food waste and leftovers
Leftover food should go into your food caddie or be reused. The Love Food Hate Waste website offers recipe ideas for making the most of any surplus food.
This VE and VJ Day anniversary is a chance to celebrate freedom and community spirit while caring for the Island’s environment.
