After long years of lack of freedom, Pilsen celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of its liberation in 1990 with the participation of the President Václav Havel and the American Ambassador Shirley Temple Black. The city of Pilsen with the living history clubs maintain the tradition of celebrating the liberation by the American army, that is why the first days of May belong to the Liberation Festival. Visitors from all over the world come every year to celebrate freedom together with the townspeople, American veterans, and their family members. A traditional part of the celebrations are commemorative acts at the monuments of the US Army units that took part in the liberation of the city, a unique parade of historical military vehicles Convoy of Liberty and presentations of living history clubs, with interesting interpretation of history with period military equipment and activities .

The Liberation Festival is an unforgettable experience with their excunique atmosphere remembering the contribution of the American army to the liberation of Europe.

We are now preparing the program of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation. From the program:

Friday May 2

Commemorative acts at the 2nd Infantry Division memorial, 16th Armored Division memorial and the Memorial dedicated to Czechoslovaks who fought on the western front.

Annual ride of the founders of the Convoy of liberty through the city center and concerts of the country folk Gross Cop and Taxmeni in the Republic square

Fly past of historic planes over the city center

Living history reenactment camps with the everyday life of soldiers and vehicles in the city center (behind the Plaza shopping mall, Na Poříčí park area and in front of the Patton Memorial Pilsen museum)

The display of the Army of Czech republic and of the US Army (shooting range Lobzy)

Czech television cinema – documentary films and mores on WWII and liberation of western Bohemia

Music stages
Republic square: The Pilsen Philharmonic orchestra and Vojtěch Dyk concert, Michal Caban show From Normandy to Pilsen
Folk & country stage: Wenda Gang, Spolucestující, Crimson fields, Poutníci, ½ Rebel
Libé rty stage of the Memory of nations: Kvartet Plamenomet, Ida The Young, The Prostitutes
40´s stage Proluka: swing dancing hall and Pilsner Jazz Band

Saturday May 3

Holy mass at the Saint Bartholomew cathedral
Living history reenactment camps with the everyday life of soldiers and vehicles in the city center (behind the Plaza shopping mall, Na Poříčí park area and in front of the Patton Memorial Pilsen museum)

The display of the Army of Czech republic and of the US Army (shooting range Lobzy)
Fly past of historic planes over the city center
Czech television cinema – documentary films and mores on WWII and liberation of western Bohemia

Freedom Americas at DEPO2015: meeting of American post war cars
Run for the Memory of nations
Beats for Liberty – DJ show Náplavka
Music stages
Republic square: The Tap Tap, Circus Brothers, November 2, Vanua2, Igor Orozovič & Co., Anna K.
Folk & country stage: 9th Illinois string, SoVS, Košík Band, Zakkis trio, Paheyl, Devítka, Forehand, Geronimo
Libé rty stage of the Memory of nations: Nora, Skotační kulomet, Poly Noir, The Rocket Dogz
40´s stage Proluka: Mladina, Paper Moon Trio (SVK), Sestryloly, Swing Field Unit (GER)
Life style zone: 40´s styling for ladies and girls
Track for kids on the theme of the book by Tereza Marianová Allies

Sunday May 4

Convoy of Liberty – unique parade of more than 350 period vehicles

Living history reenactment camps with the everyday life of soldiers and vehicles in the city center (behind the Plaza shopping mall, Na Poříčí park area and in front of the Patton Memorial Pilsen museum)

Fly past of historic planes over the city center
Czech television cinema – documentary films and mores on WWII and liberation of western Bohemia and the preview of the movie Free Pilsen speaking
Music stages
Republic square: arrival of convoy, Rock Band „Touch n´Go“ with Horns (USA), Jan Smigmator & Band (CZ) feat. Jumaane Smith (USA), Tremolo orchestra & Václav Noid Bárta
Folk & country stage: Na starý kolena Band, Pavlína Jíšová – Baba Band, Ivan Hlas Trio, Jaroslav Samson Lenk
40´s stage Proluka: Champagne Lovers

Monday May 5

Commemorative ceremony at the Memorial for the fighters and victims of the world wars, at the Memorial to the fallen members of the Western Bohemia aero club in the WWII and at the Memorial of fallen citizens of Pilsen in the May 1945 uprising.
The Day with the Czech broadcasting Pilsen:

Reconstruction of the first live broadcasting the Czechoslovak radio Pilsen at Obcizna (seclusion of the rivers Mže and Radbuza)

Republic square stage:: Melody Makers, Czech radio broadcasting bigband and Dan Bárta

The Day with the Czech broadcasting Pilsen:
Reconstruction of the first live broadcast of Czechoslovak Radio Plzeň from Obcizna (confluence of Mže and Radbuza)
Stage at náměstí Republiky: Melody Makers, Czech Radio Bigband and Dan Bárta

Tuesday May 6

Main commemorative act at the Thank you, America! memorial

We are looking forward to seeing you in Pilsen!

Oslavy v kraji