The Historic Dockyard Chatham will be transformed into the Home Front this weekend for its popular annual Salute to the 40s festivities.

One of the country’s top vintage festivals, the event takes place on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, bringing a bygone era to the 80-acre site.

This year there’ll be an extra buzz at the dockyard, as part of a special week with the commissioning of HMS Medway and the Royal Marines Band playing on the first day of Salute to the 40s festival.

The whole decade gets an airing - from military wartime displays through to the more glamorous years of the late 1940s.

Hair will be rolled and skirts will be full as visitors get Insta-ready as they, along with the performers, don dress of the era to join in the fun.

There will also be plenty of chances to get dancing too with two live music stages accompanied by dance floors. If you don’t know how to jive, fear not - there will be plenty of Lindy Hopping groups that can teach you the moves.

Music comes from Britain's Got Talent finalists last year, The D-Day Darlings, on both days, Adam Hoffman and new for this year, Miss Holiday Swing who will be performing on both days, you’ll hear the hits of the 40s from Vera Lynn & Glenn Miller to the Andrew Sisters.

The Dolly Girls will be bringing some glamour to the stage both days, along with their theatrical experience while the three part harmony vintage trio The Nightingles will be making their Salute to the 40s debut.

The event also has free vintage family funfair rides, with traditional favourites including a ferris wheel and swing boat chairs, as well as living history such as an air-raid experience and tour one of the dockyard’s air raid shelters. There will be all the sights and sounds of the wartime era, with more than 600 re-enactors from home front to military putting on a show.

The Historic Dockyard’s usual galleries and museums will be open to visitors including HMS Cavalier, HMS Gannet and HM Submarine Ocelot.

The Royal Marines Band jazz quartet will be providing an exclusive performance on Saturday, September 21 at 12.30pm.

To see the Royal Marines performance visitors must have an event ticket to Salute to the 40s. You can buy tickets on the day.

DETAILS

Salute to the 40s will be held at Historic Dockyard Chatham on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22. For tickets go to thedockyard.co.uk

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