Liberation Festival begins. They will be officially opened with an evening ceremony

The five-day celebration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen by the American army begins on Friday, 2 May. It will feature a rich cultural programme with dozens of performers, period camps, a parade of historical and contemporary military equipment, the Convoy of Liberty with nearly three hundred pieces of historic vehicles and more. Tens of thousands of people are expected to enjoy the celebration. Officially opening with a ceremony on Friday at Republic Square, the festivities will traditionally conclude with a commemorative act at the Thanks, America! monument on Monday, May 6, which will also be attended by the King of Belgium, the President of the Czech Republic and a U.S. veteran.

"I believe that this year, on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, we have prepared a dignified and attractive Celebration of Freedom, which will please both Pilseners and all those who come to Pilsen. Pilsen will be full of festive atmosphere, memories and emotions, so I sincerely hope that we will all enjoy it," said the Mayor of Pilsen Roman Zarzycký.

The first commemorative acts will take place already on the morning of Friday, 2 May, on Chodské náměstí or Husova Street. Friday's ceremonial arrival of the jeeps on Republic Square will be thematically accompanied by the bands Cop and Taxmen. From 17:30, there will be flyovers of historic planes and a parachute jump. The main stage on the Square of the Republic will be the venue for the opening ceremony from 7 pm. Visitors can look forward to a concert by Vojtěch Dyke with unique accompaniment by the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a show combining multimedia effects with historical technology directed by Michal Caban.

The weekend days of 3 and 4 May will be devoted to military camps and a cultural programme. On Saturday, ladies can get their hair transformed at the Beauty Salon in the Nava arcade on náměstí Republiky Square, where they can get a 1945-style haircut for 50 CZK. There will also be a Running of the Memory of the Nation. The scene in Proluka will offer period fashion shows or a wedding ceremony demonstration, and there will also be a swing dance hall. At 3 pm, a new memorial to the 97th Infantry Division will also be unveiled in Skvrňany Park.

The main event will be the Convoy of Liberty, when on Sunday, May 4, a traditional convoy of historic military vehicles will drive along Klatovská třída, accompanied by modern equipment of the Czech and American army.

On Monday, May 5, a commemorative act is scheduled to take place at the Square of Peace, and on Tuesday, May 6, the main commemorative act will take place at the Thanks, America! This will be attended by His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel and the American veteran Harry Humason, who arrived in Pilsen on Thursday.

During the celebrations, a cultural programme will take place on four music stages. In addition to the Square of the Republic in Kopecký sady on LIBÉ RTY Stage, in Proluka or behind OC Plzeň Plaza.

The audience can also look forward to documentaries and films presented by the Czech Television Cinema Café in the small hall of the Měšt'anská beseda. As part of the celebrations, the film Hovoří Plzeň, svobodná Plzeň hovoří!, which was produced in cooperation between the City of Pilsen, the Pilsen Region and Czech Television, will have a preview, as well as a new children's book called Spojenci (Allies) by Tereza Marianová.

The Festival of Freedom will also offer other experiences. The DEPO2015 area will host the first annual American car rally with a planned drive through the city. There will also be great food and a DJ show on the Na Radbuze embankment, and visitors to the festivities can also take a ride on the Šlechtična steam locomotive.

In addition, visitors to the Festival of Freedom in Pilsen will be able to use public transport for free on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May, and the P+R car park will also be free of charge.