East Hampshire Veterans Festival
If you, or a family member, has served in the armed forces and are looking for help, advice or support on anything, this is for you!
To celebrate and support our veterans and active‑duty armed forces in East Hampshire we are holding a Veterans Festival on Friday 24 January 2025 at Petersfield Festival Hall. 
The event is an opportunity for us all to show our appreciation for the value that the armed forces personnel (both past and present) and their families bring to our communities.
Arranged in partnership between EHDC, the Office of Damian Hinds MP for East Hampshire, and the Royal British Legion.
Come along and explore a range of information from national organisations, charities and local groups, providing support, advice, discussion, networking and friendship.
It will offer activities, guidance and information for serving and former military and defence personnel, including their families, who live and work within our district. Giving them a chance to meet and chat with people who share similar experiences.
Open from 10am-3pm the drop-in festival will feature:
- Support services including childcare, employment, finance, housing, pensions and welfare support.
- Information on how to apply for a HM armed forces veteran card and various other discounts.
- A place to chat and a safe space for private conversations
- Refreshments
- Live entertainment
- Support and advice to stay safe and well
- information and practical advice from national and local organisations and groups
- and more.
Getting to the Veterans Festival
The Veterans Festival will take place at the Petersfield Festival Hall, located in the centre of Petersfield.
Venue – Festival Hall, Heath Road, Petersfield, GU31 4EA.
Find out where it is on Google Maps
Parking – there is a large pay-and-display car park adjacent to the Festival Hall.
Public transport – Petersfield is accessible by bus and has a train station. To plan your journey by public transport, please visit the Hampshire County Council's website and our community transport webpage.
Stallholders
If you are interested in having an information stall at the event, please contact Joanne Utting or Hannah Robbins at communitynorth@easthants.gov.uk
Get in touch
For more information contact our Armed Forces Champion – Cllr Phil Shaw or email our Armed Forces Officers – Joanne Utting and Hannah Robbins at communitynorth@easthants.gov.uk
To find out what support is available for our armed forces in East Hampshire, including clubs and networking opportunities please take a look at Armed Forces in the community.
Our connection with the Armed Forces Community
Supporting our armed forces community is a priority for the council and we are proud to have been recognised with the Defence Employment Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
We have long-standing bonds with local armed forces communities and have fostered a working environment which is welcoming and attractive to reservists and ex-service men and women.
We re-signed our Armed Forces Covenant in 2022 and more recently we launched an Armed Forces Stakeholder Group. This is a network of local groups, organisations and military charities who work together to ensure that our veterans and members of the Armed Forces families have access to support if needed.
New policies have been put in place which offer additional support to reservists and members of the cadet forces, allowing them to fulfil their commitments while working at the council.