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Here's what's on the agenda for islanders looking to celebrate Liberation Day, which for 2024 is centred around the theme of "service".
Widely regarded as the national day of Jersey and Guernsey, 9 May marks the day that the islands were liberated from Occupation by German forces during World War Two.
Today, it is an occasion to remember those who died and those survived, with activities and events focused around Liberation Square and the Pomme d'Or Hotel where islanders gathered in jubilation, as well as celebrating the island's commitment to freedom, peace and inclusivity.
Pictured: The celebrations will mark 79 years since the Channel Islands were liberated.
2024 is the 79th anniversary of Liberation – but it is also another special anniversary, as the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, explained.
"This year's Liberation Day takes place just four weeks before the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which saw island veterans participate in the landings in Normandy which ultimately began the journey towards our island's liberation the following year," he said.
"This year we are highlighting the significance of service, on this most important day for all islanders, remembering amongst others those who fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom.
"I, as ever, look forward to standing together with fellow islanders to celebrate this historic occasion, to share the stories of those who lived through the Occupation and to join together with friends and family for this significant island event."
09:00 onwards: Formation of marching contingents in the Royal Square.
From 10:15: The procession to Liberation Square begins. This will start with the Scout Band and Girl Guides, before the Jersey Field Squadron, Veterans, Cadets, and St John Ambulance join.
10:30: The annual special sitting of the States Assembly begins. The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, will open, before the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, gives an address.
10:50: States Members, Crown Officers and Clergy will begin their procession to Liberation Square for the Service of Thanksgiving.
Around 11:05: The Service of Thanksgiving will take place in Liberation Square, followed by a re-enactment of Force 135's arrival, singing of Beautiful Jersey and the national anthem.
12:00: March past and motorcade.
12:15: Celebrations come to an end.
Later in the day, at 15:00, four generations of families of forced and slave workers, who made Jersey their home after the Second World War, will gather to honour the memory of their forbears on Liberation Day.
Civilians and prisoners of war from across Europe and North Africa were brought to the Channel Islands by the Germans and forced to work constructing a network of fortifications as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall which stretched from the coast of Norway to the French border with Spain.
They included Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Spanish Republicans, Algerians, Tunisians, Moroccans, Poles, French, Jews and Belgians.
The ceremony is organised by Gary Font, son of Spanish Republican forced worker Francisco Font who helped found the commemoration and went on to organise it for many years.
It has been held in the grounds of the crematorium at Westmount on Liberation Day since the mid-1960s.
Pictured: Almost 40 wreaths are due to be laid during the ceremony honouring the forced and slave workers who made Jersey their home after the Second World War.
Mr Font said: “The ceremony is as relevant today as in the early years even though the last forced worker, Belgian Emile Boydens, passed away in 2015.
“I hope that islanders will join us in the grounds of the crematorium to stand together with community and religious leaders, organisations and individuals to acknowledge their suffering and honour the memory of all slave and forced workers who never made it home.”
Almost 40 wreaths are due to be laid during the simple ceremony and Mr Font will address the gathering.
He says anyone who wishes to lay a floral tribute may do so once the official wreath laying is complete and before the observance of the traditional one-minute silence.
The Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kidd, will lead the commemoration by laying a wreath on behalf of the Crown.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, will also lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Jersey.
The ceremony is open to anyone who wishes to attend to pay respects to the thousands who were forced to work or enslaved during the Occupation.
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