Pilsen will once again experience the Liberation Festival with veteran participation, offering period camps, concerts and accompanying activities

Pilsen will once again become the venue for one of the most important European commemorations of the end of World War II. From May 1 to 6, it will come alive with the Liberation Festival, which will be visited by an American veteran this year. Visitors to the event, which will commemorate 81 years since the liberation of the West Bohemian metropolis, can look forward to period camps, flights of historical and contemporary aircraft, concerts across genres and much more.
"I believe that this year's Liberation Festival will once again connect respect for history and war veterans with the modern life of Pilsen and create a unique atmosphere. I am very happy and can confirm that Pilsen is planning to be visited by American veteran Joseph Thurmond. My thanks for the trip to Pilsen go not only to him, but also to Mr. Jan Horsky, who is organizing his trip to the Czech Republic. We also have confirmed participation from most of the families of American and Belgian liberators. They will all be special guests of the celebrations this year as well," said the Mayor of Pilsen, Roman Zarzycký.

A direct participant in the fighting of World War II, Mr. Joseph Thurmond is due to arrive in the Czech Republic just a few days after he celebrates his 100th birthday in April. He was a member of the 94th Infantry Division of the US Army, joining the war in February 1945. He fought in the Rhineland and Central Europe. His 94th Infantry Division reached Czechoslovakia, specifically western and southwestern Bohemia, in June 1945. He performed guard duty, for example in Klatovy or Střelské Hoštice. “We searched for enemy hideouts, destroyed weapons, disposed of unexploded ammunition, filled in explosion craters and secured prisoners who were then transported to larger prison camps. We worked in cities in western Czechoslovakia, such as Klatovy or Střelské Hoštice. At the end of 1945, I was transferred to the 51st Signal Corps near Munich, where I guarded and accompanied German prisoners and supervised their work in clearing debris,” recalled Joseph Thurmond. This year, based on the personal invitation and financial support of Jan Horsky, Joseph Thurmond is preparing to travel in the footsteps of his post-war activities in southwestern Bohemia, and the Liberation Festival is one of the stops on this commemorative pilgrimage, which he is undertaking together with his son Michael. Their ten-day journey together will take them, in addition to Pilsen and Prague, to Český Krumlov, Rožmberk nad Vltavou, Střelské Hoštice, Horažďovice, Rabí, Sušice and Klatovy. “It is a great honor for me to accompany the centenarian Joseph on his return to the Czech Republic. This is a unique moment, as relatively few veterans of the 94th Infantry Division have returned to us after 1989. I appreciate the good cooperation with the Slavnost team in preparing Mr. Thurmond’s trip. Joseph and I met last August at his home near the capital of Indiana, after he was first contacted by historian Jiří Klůc on the occasion of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 2024. Since then, I have visited him in person three times and we have become friends,” said Jan Horsky.

Period Camps, Convoy of Liberty and Thank You, America!

The Liberation Festival 2026 program will begin on Friday, May 1, when the gates of the military historical camps will open. In the park behind the Plzeň Plaza shopping center, they will focus on the Czechoslovak Independent Armored Brigade and the RAF, there will also be a faithful replica of a Spitfire fighter plane on a 1:1 scale or demonstrations of civilian life during the Protectorate. Křižíkovy sady in the center will be occupied by the club of the 16th Armored Division of the US Army with an authentic field kitchen and heavy equipment, and on Pobřežní Street, those interested will find a military history club representing the modern US Army. The historical atmosphere will be complemented on Saturday, May 2 by the meeting of American Freedom America cars in the DEPO2015 area and a stylish retro hairdressing salon for ladies in the NAVA passage, which will be transferred to the fashion of 1945.

The program will culminate in the traditional Convoy of Liberty. On Sunday, May 3, at 11 a.m., a convoy of historic military vehicles will leave Sukova Street. Accompanied by flyovers of period military aircraft, it will drive along Klatovská třída to Tyršova Street. The celebrations will then symbolically close on Wednesday, May 6, at 10 a.m. with the main commemorative act at the “Thank you, America!” monument, which will be accompanied by flyovers of current Czech Army aircraft. People will also pay their respects to the heroes in many other places, such as Chodské náměstí, Husova Street, náměstí Míru, or at Saturday’s commemorative act at the Freedom Linden Tree in Bolevecká náves, accompanied by a concert by the Tuten Swing band.

Culture on several stages and Hurvínek Trail

Due to reconstruction, the area on Republic Square will not be used for any of the celebration events this year. The cultural offer will be spread across several other stages. The amphitheater behind the Plzeň Plaza Shopping Center will host the Pilsen Philharmonic on Friday evening with a program of John Williams' film melodies, while Saturday will belong to rock rhythms as part of the Best of America block performed by great revival bands and Sunday to a folk afternoon with Petr Kocman and the groups Samson and his gang, Cop or Taxmeni. For lovers of swing and period atmosphere, the 40's Stage in Proluce is prepared with Lindy hop dance workshops or a dance hall. The contemporary music program will be presented on Friday, May 1st by the Libé rty stage under the Grand Theatre, prepared by the National Memory of the Plzeň Region, and on Saturday by the Beats For Liberty audiovisual show on the Radbuza embankment. The atmosphere in the center on Friday and Saturday will be completed by the Slowmarket with design products and farmers' markets uniquely located on Bedřich Smetany Street. The youngest generation can join in the celebrations thanks to the interactive Hurvínek Trail of Courage, which will commemorate not only the resistance activities of puppeteer Josef Skupa, but also the 100th birthday of the Hurvínek puppet. Sports enthusiasts can support a good cause on Friday morning by participating in the Run for the Memory of the Nation. On Sunday afternoon, Moving Station will offer an interesting intersection of theater and history in the performance Madamme M., which presents the story of a concentration camp prisoner in Holýšov in the Domažlice region, Mrs. Marie-Marguerite Michelin.