The Mosgiel Memorial RSA hosted a service held in Anzac Park, attended by hundreds of people of all ages.
The parade started at the RSA and led veterans, family members, community leaders and groups into Anzac Park.
The service was officiated by Mosgiel Memorial RSA vice-president Kevin Thompson.
Taieri College’s head pupils each read a scripture and Taieri MP Ingrid Leary was the guest speaker.
In her speech, Ms Leary honoured those who fought, saying they "gave us our freedom".
She spoke of her own relatives who were involved and called for an end to violence of all kind.
In Outram, a parade down Holyhead Rd ended at the war memorial, where the service was officiated by Denis Aitken.
Outram resident Fay McDonald talked of her friend, a former gunner, who died last year aged 97.
A gunner was deemed one of the most dangerous positions and her friend counted his years after the war as a "bonus", Mrs McDonald said.
She spoke of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how it had had "depressingly familiar" results for many people.
"We want the need for a day like Anzac Day to gradually vanish," she said.
Mrs McDonald then asked people to acknowledge two contradictory ideas — to remember veterans and honour their actions with gratitude, and hope "these things will not be required again of our young men and women".
She asked people to recognise war’s futility to solve our problems.
The Rev Davis Poultney echoed Mrs McDonald’s words, calling Anzac Day "a day of gratitude".
