Llanelli set for return of popular 80s Festival and Armed Forces Day

Grab your proton packs and fire up the flux capacitor as Llanelli 80s Festival and Armed Forces Day 2023 takes the town centre back in time on Saturday, June 24.

Organised by Ymlaen Llanelli Business Improvement District (Bid) and supported by Llanelli Town Council, the event is a town centre favourite, featuring an Armed Forces Day parade at 11am followed by an 80s pop culture time warp from 12:30pm, with replica cars on display and live music on stage.

The event will also see free parking in all council-owned town centre car parks.

Chair of Ymlaen Llanelli Bid, Lesley Richards, is looking forward to another day of town centre fun and said: "Llanelli 80s Festival is always a great day of good music, good food and good vibes in the town centre, and we’re especially excited for this year’s line-up.

"We’re paying tribute to some of the biggest staples of the 80s, and this year even more of our town centre businesses have gotten involved to help put together an incredible offering. We can’t wait to see everyone on the day, and we hope you all enjoy."

The day will begin with the Armed Forces Day parade led by Llanelli Veterans Association, which will leave Spring Gardens at 11am and conclude at the event’s stage on Vaughan Street.

Llanelli Cadets will then lead a skills demonstration, followed by a drumhead service led by Re. Eldon Phillips until 12:15pm.

The 80s fun then begins at 12:30pm as replicas of two major icons of the decade ride into Stepney Square: the Ghostbusters’ famous Ecto-1 car, and the DeLorean car from Back to the Future , both on display until 4:30pm.

The Vaughan Street stage is set to rival Glastonbury’s main stage, with tributes to 80s pop stars Kylie Minogue and Michael Jackson, plus sets from local bands the Reflex, Otherside, and the Electric Company, making for a day of non-stop 80s hits.

There’ll be hot street food vendors and bars ready to serve everyone getting into the groove, as well as market stalls for those who want to pick up a sweet treat to take home.

Businesses will be joining in the fun for the day, with an 80s theme in EJ’s on Friday night, a pre-show in the Second 45 at 1pm on Saturday, and two classic 80s films in the Ffwrnes:

Back to the Future screens at 4pm, while Cocktail shows at 7:30pm.

People Speak Up will also be stationed in the St Elli Centre from 10am to 12pm with free retro badge-making.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without some after parties, so there will be evening entertainment from town centre businesses includes live music, DJs, karaoke, fancy dress and more, with venues including Llanelly House, the York Palace, the Tinhouse, Marzano’s, the New Drovers, Ruby’s Bar, Opulence, Stamps, and the Met Bar.

The full event itinerary and the evening gig guide can be found on Ymlaen Llanelli’s social media.

Up next on the BID’s annual slate of events is Llanelli AugustFest, the brand-new beer festival aimed at promoting the town’s night-time economy.

The event will take place on Saturday August 5 from 12pm to 6pm, featuring stalls from local Welsh beer and cider producers, live music, and a beer trail throughout the town.

More details on this event will be announced soon.