Drake Circus to pay tribute to Armed Forces Week

Plymouth’s Drake Circus is preparing to mark Armed Forces Week 2025 with a week-long celebration of colour, creativity and community pride – honouring those who serve, and the families who support them.

From Monday 23 June to Sunday 29 June, the shopping centre will be filled with powerful public art, performance and messages of thanks, all paying tribute to Plymouth’s Armed Forces community – past and present.

At the heart of the week’s activities is a striking in-centre installation, created in partnership with Military Kids Club Heroes and Future Fit Junior Field Gun. Dozens of local schoolchildren from military families have decorated real Junior Field Fun wheels, each reflecting the theme of ‘Life in a Forces Family’. The wheels will go on public display on walls across the first floor of Drake Circus (near to car park exit level 1) during Armed Forces Week, with a prize awarded to the most impactful design at an in-centre prizegiving on Thursday 26 June 2025.

Alongside the display, pupils are also contributing individual 2D artworks, exploring what it means to grow up in a forces-connected home. These will be showcased on the centre’s social media channels – offering a candid, creative window into military family life in Plymouth.

In a community call-out, Drake Circus is inviting the public to send in personal messages of thanks to service personnel, veterans and military families. A selection of these will be displayed across the centre’s digital screens throughout the week. Submissions can be made via direct message on the centre’s social media channels.

A highlight of the week will be a free public performance by Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Armed Forces Choir, taking place at Old Town Square at 4.30pm on Thursday 26 June. Formed of veterans, serving personnel and their families, the choir is part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Our Space programme, and is supported by the Welsh National Opera.

In a bold tribute, Drake Circus will be lit in red, white and blue throughout the week.

“Plymouth has one of the UK’s most significant military communities, and we wanted to mark Armed Forces Week with something that puts local military families and young people at the heart of the story.” said Greg Lumley, Centre Director at Drake Circus.

“This is a city where service life touches thousands of families – and we hope our contribution to Armed Forces Week gives local people the chance to pause, connect, and feel proud of what Plymouth stands for.”

The Armed Forces Week activity at Drake Circus complements the city’s wider programme of events, including the flagship Plymouth Armed Forces Day on the Hoe on Saturday 28 June, which attracts over 40,000 visitors annually.

What's on during the week

Art Installation

Daily. First Floor (near Car Park Exit Level 1)

Created in partnership with Military Kids Club Heroes and Future Fit Junior Field Gun, dozens of local schoolchildren from military families have decorated real Junior Field Gun wheels, reflecting on their lives and putting military families and young people at the heart of the story.

• FREE public display of decorated Junior Field Gun wheels

• Created by local military family schoolchildren

• Theme: "Life in a Forces Family"

• Prize ceremony: Thursday 26 June

Armed Forces Choir Performance

Thursday 26 June. 4.30pm. Old Town Square

Formed of veterans, serving personnel and their families, the choir is part of Theatre Royal Plymouth's Our Space programme, bringing together the military community through music.

• FREE live performance by Theatre Royal Plymouth's Armed Forces Choir

• Features veterans, serving personnel, and military families

• Supported by the Welsh National Opera

Messages of Thanks

Throughout the week. Digital screens across the centre

In a community call-out, Drake Circus is inviting the public to send in personal messages of thanks to service personnel, veterans and military families, with a selection digitally displayed for all to see.

• Submit your personal thanks to service personnel and military families

• Messages displayed on centre's digital screens

• Send via @DrakeCircus social media channels

Illuminations

Nightly throughout the week. Building exterior

The exterior of Drake Circus shopping centre will be illuminated in military colours throughout the week, creating a striking display at the heart of Plymouth.

• Drake Circus lit in red, white, and blue

• Stunning tribute visible across Plymouth City Centre