THE Yorkshire Wartime Experience returns this weekend and organisers are gearing up for their busiest year yet.
The event, which begins today (Friday) and runs until Sunday, promises to deliver action-packed days out for all the family.
Visitors will be able to take a step back in time and see history brought to life before their eyes, with the main attractions planned for Saturday and Sunday.
Organiser Stuart Wright said: “We are now the UK’s largest military show.
“We’ve got over 500 vehicles this weekend, there’s a lot more stalls, a lot more re-enactment groups.
“We’ve gone from very, very small to now being the largest military show in this country as it stands at the moment.”
Stuart, who collects military vehicles himself and has his own re-enactment group, said he runs The Yorkshire Wartime Experience how he would expect to see it run as a visitor.
He described it as a friendly, down-to-earth set-up and added: “Hopefully the crowds will come like they do every single year.
“In regard to the amount of vehicles and re-enactment groups, this is the busiest we have ever been, it’s all good fun.”
He added: “Saturday we’ve got the Lancaster Bomber coming, Sunday we’ve got the Spitfire and Hurricane coming.”
That’s a very special combination as only two shows in the country have all three – The Yorkshire Wartime Experience being one of them.
The flypasts are expected at around 2.20pm on Saturday and Sunday, but visitors are advised to keep in mind the time could change due to weather conditions and mechanical issues.
There will be three battle re-enactments per day and organisers have pulled out all the stops to make them as true to life as possible.
Stuart said the “completely realistic” World War One trench has been created with plans supplied by the Imperial War Museum in London.
To mark the 40th anniversary year of the Falklands War, there will be a chance to see artifacts from the conflict, while the event will also welcome a special guest, Matt Mackinnon-Pattison, a 22nd SAS World War Two veteran.
His attendance will be even more special as he marks his 98th birthday on Sunday.
Elsewhere there will be 1940s singing and dancing, stalls, paintball, firing ranges and more.
The Yorkshire Wartime Experience is held at Cockleshaw Beck Farm, Hunsworth Lane and the entrance is just by the motorway bridge.
Visitors can pay on the gate, which opens at 10am.
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