🍴 Colchester Food & Drink Festival 2026

📅 Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026

⏰ 11:00am – 6:00pm Both Days

📍 Lower Castle Park
St Peter’s Street Entrance (Ryegate)
Colchester, Essex, CO1 1HL

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Welcome to the Colchester Food & Drink Festival

Join us for a fantastic weekend of food, drink, music and family entertainment in the beautiful surroundings of Lower Castle Park.

Now in its 27th year, the Colchester Food & Drink Festival is one of Essex’s best-loved summer events, bringing together incredible food, refreshing drinks, live music, family entertainment and a wonderful festival atmosphere.

Explore a huge selection of international street food, artisan producers, craft drinks, shopping stalls, live entertainment and children’s attractions throughout the weekend.

Whether you’re looking for a family day out, a chance to meet friends, discover new flavours or simply relax in one of Colchester’s most beautiful parks, there’s something for everyone.

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🎟️ Festival Admission

Adults: £8

Under 16s: FREE

All under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult aged 18 or over.

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⭐ VIP Marquee Experience ⭐

Upgrade your day and enjoy the festival in comfort with exclusive VIP access.

Your VIP ticket includes:

🥂 Complimentary drink on arrival

🪑 Reserved seating throughout the day

🍹 Exclusive VIP bar

🛎️ Waitress table service

🚻 Private VIP toilets

💆 Complimentary seated massage sessions
(11:00am–12:00pm and 5:00pm–6:00pm, subject to availability)

VIP Ticket Options

⭐ VIP Marquee Seat – £30

⭐ VIP Marquee Table of 6 – £160

⭐ VIP Marquee Table of 8 – £210

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Festival Highlights

🌍 International Street Food

🍔 Gourmet Food Traders

🍺 Craft Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits & Cocktails

🎶 Live Music Throughout The Weekend

🎈 Children’s Entertainment & Inflatables

🛍️ Artisan Food & Drink Producers

🍰 Cakes, Desserts & Sweet Treats

☕ Coffee & Speciality Drinks

🌶️ Chilli & Hot Sauce Specialists

🐶 Dog Friendly Event – Well-behaved dogs (and owners!) welcome

🅿️ Free Parking

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🌶️ Chilli Eating Competition

Think you’re tough enough?

Sponsored by Chilli Addicts, our legendary Chilli Eating Competition returns for another year of fiery fun.

Competition Times

🕑 Saturday – 2:00pm

🕒 Sunday – 3:00pm

Take On The Challenge

🔥 Progress through increasingly hot chillies

🔥 Win prizes and festival bragging rights

🔥 Be crowned Colchester Food & Drink Festival Chilli Champion

🔥 Free to enter with festival admission

Competitors may register in advance or enter on the day (subject to availability).

Enter if you dare!

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🐶 Dogs Welcome

Well-behaved dogs are very welcome at the festival.

We simply ask that all dogs are kept under control and accompanied by equally well-trained owners! 😄

Please keep dogs on a lead and clean up after them so everyone can enjoy the event.

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🅿️ Free Parking

Free visitor parking is available at:

Kings Meadow
End of Catchpool Road
Colchester
CO1 1XN

From the car park, visitors can walk along Pavilion View and cross via the Lower Castle Park footbridge.

🚶 Approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the festival entrance.

The route will be clearly signposted and staff will be available to assist with directions.

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♿ Disabled Parking

Disabled parking is available at the Leisure World Sports Centre.

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🍺 Alcohol Policy

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors, alcohol purchased outside the festival may not be brought onto the event site.

Bag searches may be conducted upon entry and any alcohol found will be confiscated.

By purchasing a ticket and attending the festival, visitors agree to comply with this policy.

Failure to comply may result in refusal of entry or removal from the event.

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📜 Ticket Sales Policy

All ticket sales are final.

Refunds or exchanges will only be offered if the event is cancelled or rescheduled.

Under 16s receive free admission but must be accompanied by at least one paying adult aged 18 or over whilst attending the festival.

This does not affect your statutory rights under UK consumer law.

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We look forward to welcoming you to Lower Castle Park for another fantastic weekend of food, drink, entertainment and summer atmosphere at the Colchester Food & Drink Festival 2026.

Beer supplied by

Ticket Sales Policy
All ticket sales are final. We do not offer refunds or exchanges unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled. This does not affect your statutory rights under UK consumer law.