Family fun day and free leisure activities to mark Armed Forces Day

Family fun day and free leisure activities to mark Armed Forces Day

Shropshire Council is celebrating the county's armed forces community on Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June [2026].

A family fun day celebration at Shrewsbury Castle will offer a day full of family-friendly activities, which also allows visitors to show their gratitude towards armed forces personnel both past and present.

The event is between 11am and 3pm and is free. Throughout the day, there will be interactive activities for all the family from local emergency services, service charities, Shropshire Brass Band, refreshments, Blingy band and bugles, vintage military vehicles, plus much more.

Visitors on the day will also have free access to the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum.

The event is being delivered in partnership by Shropshire Council and Wace Morgan. Both organisations are holders of the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award and have been recognised for their respective efforts to provide exceptional support to the armed forces community.

As well as hosting the family fun day there will be other offers to benefit both serving personnel, veterans and their families at the council's leisure centres and those run by its partners.

Shropshire Council leisure facilities Church Stretton Leisure Centre and Meole Brace Golf Course will be offering free access for serving personnel, family members and veterans on Saturday 29 June and Sunday 30 June.

Shropshire Community Leisure Trust is providing free access at Whitchurch Swimming & Fitness Centre, Quarry Swimming & Fitness Centre, Shrewsbury Sports Village, Oswestry Leisure Centre, Bishops Castle Leisure Centre and Market Drayton Swimming & Fitness Centre for serving personnel, family members and veterans on Saturday 27 June.

Teme Leisure will be giving free access for serving personnel on Saturday 27 June and Sunday 28 June at Ludlow Leisure Centre and Cleobury Sports Centre.

Halo Leisure is providing free access at Bridgnorth Leisure Centre, Severn Centre, Much Wenlock Leisure Centre for serving personnel, family members and veterans on Saturday 27 and 28 June.

Serving personnel will need to show their service card. Some veterans may have a veteran's badge or an ID card to qualify.

On Monday 22 June Shropshire Council will be raising the Armed Forces Flag outside the Guildhall in Shrewsbury to show its support for the armed forces community and gratitude for the sacrifice and commitment our past and present service men and women have given. The event will be attended by council staff, councillors, veterans and serving personnel.

Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, said

"The family fun day will give the armed forces community the opportunity to spend time with their family and enjoy a range of free activities. As well as the fun day some of our leisure facilities will be offering free access to their facilities. Armed Forces week is something that Shropshire Council have always supported; we want to show our armed forces community that we appreciate what they do for us."

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