From 10.30am Peel Street will close down for the public parade, which will include vintage and modern trucks, appliances, equipment and uniforms, from several eras of the service.

Zone Commander Tom Cooper said the parade will follow the same route as the Festival cavalcade.

"We will have a number of appliances (trucks) from both Tamworth stations, and we will also have a number of vintage and older appliances that the retired members look after and restore at the showground," he said.

"On those appliances the fire fighters will be wearing period uniform as well, so there will be brass helmets and buttons, belts and axes and the like on the old ones, white plastic helmets and a different uniform on some of the others, and a few in modern-day gear up the back.

"It will be a walk through the history of the fire brigade, down Peel Street, so come celebrate 50 years of the 508 station."

A BBQ lunch will also be held at the station following the parade for anyone wishing to attend, while a gala dinner will be held that night for members and retired members of the 508.

While the celebrations will mark the 50 year milestone, it will also unofficially mark the end of the 508 as well, which will permanently close when the new South Tamworth 448 opens its doors midway through next year on Ringers Road.

Tenders for the construction of the new station closed last week.

Parade starts at 11am.