Oktoberfest Colchester leaves grass in Castle Park destroyed

The annual Oktoberfest event was held in the city centre park, where it has been based since 2017, on Friday and Saturday.

Extreme weather left the ground at Lower Castle Park waterlogged, and large vehicles used to pack away the event resulted in extensive damage being done to the turf, including large, muddy tyre tracks left over vast swathes of land.

The event’s organisers have since apologised for the damage, which occurred because of an “extraordinary” amount of rain in the lead up to and during the two-day event.

Muddy - tyre tracks in Lower Castle Park (Image: Public)

A spokesman said: “The on-site team did all they could to protect the ground, including using both a large amount of metal trackway for vehicles and deploying matting for pedestrian walkways.

“However, with any outdoor event that experiences weather like this, at whatever time of the year, damage to the ground can occur and the organisers are very sorry for this.”

The Oktoberfest team is now working with Colchester Events and the city council to repair the land, which will be done at the expense of the organisers.

Sorry - the event's organisers have apologised (Image: Public)

They added: “The event was another success overall, and was well received by the local community, the local businesses and others, and we appreciate the support given to the event by the local communities in Colchester.

“However, we appreciate that we need to get the park back to its former self as soon as possible.”

Colchester Council said it is “committed to restoring the grass area” to its former beauty, adding it “understands the community’s concern”.

“The timescale for restoration will depend on several factors, including weather conditions and the chosen method of repair, but we are striving to complete the initial restoration as swiftly as possible,” a spokesman added.

“Some scars will still be visible this winter, however, until we are able to fully reseed in the spring.”

James Young, events manager at Colchester Events, said his team remains dedicated to providing “engaging and enjoyable experiences for our residents and visitors, even in the face of unforeseen challenges”.

Oktoberfest will return to Colchester in 2024.