Ribble Valley communities are being encouraged to take up the council's offer of free road closures and £500 grants for VE Day street parties next month.
May marks the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe over fascism in 1945, which led to the end of the Second World War. VE Day marks the official date of Nazi Germany's surrender to the Allies on May 8, 1945.
However, some fighting continued across parts of eastern Europe further into May including part of Latvia and Prague, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. Conflict also continued in the Far East until victory over Japan in August 1945.
Anniversary plans in the Ribble Valley include the borough council raising the official VE Day 80 flag at 9am on Thursday, May 8. The Mayor will hold a beacon lighting ceremony at Clitheroe Castle at 9.30pm, in co-ordination with others being lit nationwide, and read a tribute of remembrance.
There will also be music from Clitheroe Town Band, with the hymn I Vow to Thee My Country suggested, which will be sung by those in attendance along with other songs.
Local VE Day community events and grants were discussed at Ribble Valley Council's latest policy and finance committee meeting.
Marshal Scott, the council's chief executive, said: "The council has a proud record of supporting national events and commemorations. This year's VE Day will be the 80th anniversary, so it's a special date. We aim to do something at the castle and we are also suggesting £500 for every parish or town council in the district."
Cllr Kevin Horkin (Con) said: "In the past, other events have worked well. Will this £500 grant be automatically sent to parishes or will be there be some process involved?"
Mr Scott replied: "We've had simple processes for these types of grants in the past. It is public money so it's got to be accounted for properly. We can't just give it out. But we'd aim for a simple process. We're suggesting a total of £20,000 to be taken from the council's general balances."
He added: "The government's idea is that on the May Bank Holiday communities can get together and have street parties. We are planning to wave the fee for street closure procedures and trying to encourage events."
Cllr Sue Bibby (Con) said she understood one local parish had, in the past, declined a similar grant. Councillors suggested the VE Day grant process be made as easy as possible, within reason, with the council pro-actively "offering" grants to parish and town councils. This motion was agreed.
