D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY 2014 70Th Anniversary of the Landings and the Battle of Normandy from 1St to 15Th June 2014

D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY 2014 70th Anniversary of the Landings and the battle of Normandy From 1st to 15th June 2014

Presse release ...... page 2

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Programme ...... pages 3-7

Partners ...... page 8

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com Press release D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY 2014 Arromanches – Bayeux – Sainte-Mère-Eglise Isigny-sur-Mer – Carentan – Utah Gold Beach – Omaha Beach From 1st to 15th June 2014

For the 70th Anniversary of the Allied Landings, D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 is the opportunity for locals and visitors alike to celebrate Freedom. For the 8th edition of the festival, major events will be organised in the D-Day Beaches sector. Free and open to all!

On 6th June 1944, the Normandy became the scene of the most gigantic military operation in History. Each year since 2007, D- Day Festival Normandy has been offering a selection of key festive events for the anniversary of the Allied Landings of 6th June 1944.

Five tourist offices make up the “D-Day Normandy Bessin- Cotentin” destination and present their area at its best: Baie du Cotentin, Isigny-Grandcamp Intercom, Omaha Beach, Bayeux Intercom and Arromanches.

For the 8th edition of the Festival, 20 events have been selected to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and regained freedom: air show, parachuting, parades, concerts, sound and light show, reconstructions, giant picnics and more...

Once again the Festival promises to be a beautiful and moving celebration!

The objective of the festival is to offer visitors a complete “D-Day week-end” and to maintain at a very high level the number of visitors generated by the themes “D-Day landings” and “Battle of Normandy”.

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com Programme

ST SATURDAY 31 MAY 2014 International Walk For Peace UTAH BEACH – SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE – 10.00 AM Since 2009, the International Walk for Peace opens the memorial week of D-Day. Close to 700 persons go for peace. This year, departure from Utah Beach at 10.00 am for a 12 miles walk, with an arrival in Sainte- Mère-Église around 5.00 pm. Picnic on the route. Centre paroissial de Sainte-Mère-Église – 02 33 41 41 48 – www.marchepourlapaix-normandie.fr

TH THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2014 D-Day Amphibious parade CARENTAN – 3.00 PM From 9.30 am: large gathering of amphibious vehicles with exhibition – Carentan marina. 3.00 pm: Parade on the Haut Dick Canal with 15 amphibious jeeps, 1 GMC Duck and English boats. Musical entertainment. Organised by the town of Carentan – 02 33 71 23 50 (tourist office)

Synchronized Fireworks ALONG THE COAST – 11.00 PM

Along 80 km of coastline, 24 intense, rhythmic, entirely automated and

synchronised firework displays will be fired from 24 main D-Day sites.

Organised by Normandie Mémoire – 02 31 94 80 26

TH FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2014 Grand american parade SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE – 3.00 PM 3.00 pm: Grand American “Memorial Parade”. 9.00 pm: Concert for Peace, organised on the church square with the Regional Orchestra of Lower-Normandy and a choir. Organised by the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise – 02 33 21 00 33 (tourist office)

Open-air cinema & concert ARROMANCHES – 9.00 PM Open-air projection of an archive film on giant screen (1 hour). Concert by the History Swingers Big Band: a musical journey in the style of Glenn Miller (10.30 pm). Musical fireworks display: 11.30 pm. Organised by the Arromanches tourist office – 02 31 22 36 45 3 © Calvados Tourisme D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com Programme

TH TH FROM FRIDAY 6 TO SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2014 Show of model ships and radio-controlled tanks ISIGNY-SUR-MER – from 2.30 PM Reconstruction of the D-Day Landings on the Fanal lake (scale 1/16th). Follow the progress of a mini armada composed of units measuring up to 2m30 in length and highlighted with special effects (30 mn displays shown several time every day). Organised by: Club de la Garde Républicaine, Forum RC Panzer, town of Isigny-sur-Mer – 02 31 51 24 00 (town hall)

TH SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2014 « Carentan Liberty March » CARENTAN – 4.00 PM Re-enactment of an exodus and parade, arrival of the Carentan Liberty March, re-enactment of the “Silver Star” ceremony of 23rd June. 5.30 pm: Liberation Flash mob. 8.30 pm (Haut Dick gymnasium): Grand Liberation ball, with the participation of 21 musicians from “Tea for Two Big Band”, the Three Belles and Bevin Boy. Organised by: Carentan Liberty Group – 02 33 71 23 50 (tourist office)

The « Patrouille de France » air show ARROMANCHES – 4.00 PM

A 45 minutes air show by the “Patrouille de France” (French squadron) above the artificial harbour of Arromanches.

Organised by the Arromanches tourist office – 02 31 22 36 45

Great military vehicles parade GRANDCAMP-MAISY (noon) / ISIGNY-SUR-MER (6.00 PM)

Not to be missed! Some 180 vehicles from the MVCG France reconstitution groups will travel along the coast from Pointe du Hoc to Isigny: Jeeps, Dodges, GMC, tanks, and more! The parade will be followed by a giant picnic and a concert by the Swing Combo in the grounds of Isigny-sur-Mer town hall. Schedule: Grandcamp-Maisy (noon - 4.30 pm) – Cardonville – Osmanville – Isigny- sur-Mer (6.00 pm - 7.30 pm). Organised by: Isigny-Grandcamp Intercom tourist office, towns of Isigny-sur-Mer, Grandcamp-Maisy, Cardonville and Osmanville, MVCG France – 02 31 21 46 00 (tourist office) 4

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com Programme

TH SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2014 (END) La Liberté en fête (Let’s celebrate Freedom) BAYEUX – from 6.00 PM 6.00 pm: Big Band Jazz. 7.00 pm: Liberty Dance with the participation of Anita Covelli and her big band who will play great jazz standards, followed by a repertoire of French post-war songs. 10.00 pm: Gospel concert by Soul Gospel. Place de Gaulle, Bayeux (Halle aux grains for the dance and in the cathedral for the gospel concert according to weather conditions). Festive picnic (to be brought along or purchased on site). Organised by the town of Bayeux – 02 31 92 03 30

« 10th giant picnic on Omaha Beach » SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER – 7.30 PM

5.00 pm: Parade of the UNIVEM military vehicles. 7.30 pm: A giant picnic on the seafront. Liberation Ball with The Glenn Project (Glenn Miller Big Band), followed by the band Les Moulinex (1940’s music and French post-war songs) 11.00 pm: release of sky lanterns (according to weather conditions). Rotisserie and beverages available on site. Organised by Omaha Beach tourist office – 02 31 51 39 52

TH SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2014 The Landings Triathlon ARROMANCHES – 10.30 AM Two different races are available. Beginners (Découverte): 300 m swim in the artificial harbour, 8 km mountain bike ride towards the battery of Longues-sur-Mer and 3 km trail run. Advanced (Confirmé): 1500 m swim, 32 km mountain bike ride and 10 km trail Start and finish point: place du 6 juin. Entertainments. Awards presented by veterans. Organised by the Arromanches tourist office – 02 31 22 36 45

Great Liberation’s vehicles parade « A tribute to the british XXX corps » BAYEUX – 11.00 AM More than 150 military vehicles will be driven down the high street of the first liberated town. A historical, popular and original parade paying homage to the British liberators. (In partnership with the Tillysur-Seulles Battle of Normandy Book Fair and British collectors.) Organised by the Bayeux Intercom tourist office – 02 31 51 28 28 5

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com Programme TH SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2014 (END) Parachute display of La Fière SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE – 11.00 AM A major show of international military parachuting! Air show by the Patrouille de France (French Squadron - to be confirmed). On the site of la Fière, 3 km from the village, in the direction of Picauville. 11.00 am: International military parachute drops – 2.30 pm: Official ceremony at the Iron Mike Monument – 3.30 pm: reconstruction of a parachute drop with men dressed in original uniforms. 6.00 pm: Arrival of the paratroopers and military band on the church square. Organised by: town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, RCPT and AVA – 02 33 21 00 33 (tourist office)

TH TH THURSDAY 12 & FRIDAY 13 JUNE 2014 Ultra D-Day Trail UTAH BEACH / MEMORIAL DE CAEN 14 international athletes (7 civilians and 7 soldiers) will set off on a 100 mile trail, passing through major D- ay sites, and stopping at 14 “check points” chosen for their historical values. Organisation : Association Ultra D-Day Trail – 06 42 57 14 18

TH SATURDAY 14 JUNE 2014 Evening show « Rendez-vous à la cathédrale – The lights of Liberty » BAYEUX – At dusk The popular evening show “Rendez-vous à la Cathédrale” returns with a new voyage into the heart of Liberty! A grandiose and original show, highlighting the magnificent cathedral and bringing to life the monumental Tree of Liberty (planted in 1797) with the use of the latest technologies in Sound and Light. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 14th June to 23rd August). Organised by the Bayeux Intercom tourist office – 02 31 51 28 28 TH TH SATURDAY 14 & SUNDAY 15 JUNE 2014 Book fair « History and Memories » SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE Comic and book fair “History and Memories”, 6th edition – More than 50 national and regional authors will be present. Ste-Mère-Église town hall.

Organised by: Communauté de Communes Baie du Cotentin – 02 33 21 00 33 (tourist office) 6

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com BUT ALSO…

ST TH FROM 31 MAY TO 9 JUNE 2014 « Arizona Camp » CARENTAN – Market hall, route américaine Reconstruction of an American military camp with the presence of 500 re-enactors. Entertainment. US mail, grocer’s shop, military hospital, etc. Saturday 7th June at 2.00 pm: presentation of 15 Cushman scooters and 70 Harley Davidson from the 1940’s. Concerts. Organised by: Association CAPA – 02 33 71 23 50 (tourist office)

ST TH FROM 1 TO 8 JUNE 2014 « Camp Geronimo » STE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE – Airborne museum Reconstruction of the Geronimo Camp presenting American paratroopers in Normandy. 150 participants and 70 vehicles by the associations: MVCG Bretagne, Overlord 76, Enfer Normand and V for Victory. Entertainment on site: demonstrations (parachute, personal preparation, arms, mine clearance...), music...

Organised by the Airborne museum – 02 33 41 41 35

ND TH FROM 2 TO 8 JUNE 2014 Camps «Dog Green» & «Cecil Breeden» VIERVILLE-SUR-MER- Route de Grandcamp-Maisy Camp Dog Green: more than 250 collectors will display vehicles used to liberate Europe. Camp Cecil Breeden: reconstruction of an merican D-DAY camp by the Duty First Association. For one week, visits to the camps, convoys, parades and tours in a military vehicle… Mass will be celebrated on 8th June. Organised by: UNIVEM Paris – 06 14 66 02 55

BAYEUX INTERCOM 02 31 51 28 28 www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com

ARROMANCHES 02 31 22 36 45 www.ot-arromanches.fr

BAIE DU COTENTIN SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE CARENTAN 02 33 21 00 33 02 33 71 23 50 www.ot-baieducotentin.fr

ISIGNY-GRANDCAMP INTERCOM 02 31 21 46 00 www.isigny-grandcamp-intercom.com

OMAHA BEACH 02 31 51 39 52 www.oti-omaha.fr

WWW.DDAYFESTIVAL.COM

D-Day Festival Normandy 2014 – Press contact : Claire BEAURUEL - Office de tourisme de Bayeux Intercom Tél : 02.31.51.28.24 – [email protected] – www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com