A MAJOR slice of living history is set to return to Tameside next summer.
Yanks and Monopoly Events have announced a new partnership to deliver the official YANKS event in 2026.
The two-day festival will take place across Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge over the weekend of Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.
It promises a packed programme celebrating the sights, sounds and spirit of the 1940s.
Yanks is a well-established heritage event that commemorates the presence of American servicemen stationed in the North West during the Second World War.
The festival has become known for bringing wartime history to life through music, vehicles, fashion and community remembrance, while also celebrating the enduring links between local communities and visiting US forces.
Visitors to the event can expect military and classic car displays, a tea dance, military and vintage stalls, an indoor craft fair, a Yanks-themed film screening in a cinema, a big swing dance, and live entertainers throughout the weekend.
A highlight of the programme will be a military and classic car parade on Sunday morning, travelling through the town centres.
Organisers have also said there could be a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
Yanks organiser Paul Higginson said: “We are delighted to have gained the support and backing of Monopoly Events, who we believe can take the event to another level.”
Monopoly Events CEO Andy Kleek added: “We are delighted to be involved with this event, it’s so important to remember and celebrate our rich history, and bring our community together in the process.”
The organisers hope the festival will attract visitors from across Greater Manchester and beyond, while firmly rooting the event in Tameside’s town centres. There are also ambitions for the festival to become an annual fixture in the local events calendar.
A call has now gone out for traders, military and classic vehicles, and military displays to take part. Expenses will be offered, while veterans and re-enactors will receive free drinks and refreshments as a thank you for their involvement.
Residents are encouraged to “come and join the fun” and relive the sights and sounds of the 1940s, with further updates to be shared in the coming months via the Yanks Facebook page.