Historical re-enactments - army displays WWII Spitfires - helicopters - bands - motorcycle displays - huge number of military vehicles and static displays - probably the most spectacular event of its kind in the UK!
Stop press! After another huge success this year, we've been invites to stage the historical element of the 2007 festival on 16 (and 17) June - revisit for details!
Another
fantastic event! Following the success of the previous years, we were once again invited to
increase the scale of our historical displays, forming an integral part of
Army's spectacular one-day festival. This was the show's 3rd year, bigger and
better than ever, and is rapidly earning a reputation for being one of the UK's premier
events, with its superb blend of military, civilian
and historical displays. Huge crowds provisionally estimated at 30,000 flocked
to the event. Attendence was so high that visitors arriving by car from late
morning onwards were caught in a long tailback* .
The Garrison is home to 16 Air Assault Brigade, part of which is currently deployed in Afghanistan. This year the festival's Patrons were once again The Honourable Sir William McAlpine Bt and Martin Bell OBE. The venue, Abbey Fields, is an attractive large open grass area with trees, adjacent to the garrison and within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Visitors enjoyed a superb line up from the elite of British re-enactment and living history depicting soldiers through the ages, from Classical Greeks to 1980s. In addition to ongoing living history displays, there was a chronological "time line" of history through individual displays within our own separate arena depicting the uniforms, weaponry and tactics of each era, plus in the main arena, Roman Army display, English Civil War, American Civil War and WWII battles. Our groups formed a major part of the Grand Finale - Salute to Colchester - a parade of all military participants, the 1812 Overture, followed by Sunset, which was even more spectacular this year with the addition of a flyover by 3 Spitfire fighters.
Other displays and
attractions arranged by the army included a modern-day infantry assault,
Apache, Merlin, Lynx and Gazelle helicopters, the
Red Devils parachute display team, daredevil motorcyclists, Army
bands, over 60 military vehicles old and new, classic cars, army tug of war, archery & air rifles,
garrison radio road show and many static displays....all in
all a fantastic day out. Click for
frequently asked questions.
Click for an excellent selection of photographs taken by images2view.
Official DVD
Don't miss the official DVD of this spectacular event, produced by Robin Hood Productions in association with EventPlan and the Colchester Garrison, and available mid August after editing. The one hour includes all highlights of Sunday's show too (see below). Price £11.99p, available by post using our order form.
Admission
(Saturday)Truly amazing value! Adult just £5.00p, OAP/under 16s £3.00p, Family £15. Car parking £2. All profits to go to charity. Tickets were available on the day and in advance from Colchester Tourist information Centre & the Town Hall.
The army welcomed traders to this event. A modest pitch fee applied, please click for further details of trading opportunities at this and other EventPlan shows.
Sunday : The Colchester Chariot Spectacular
Following on from Saturday, there was a second superb day of top quality historical re-enactments, plus Roman chariot racing close to the original site of Colchester's racing circus, recently discovered! Arranged by Snake in the Grass Ltd.
Thousands of visitors enjoyed main arena displays include 2 chariot races, a Roman army display, Napoleonic redcoats and riflemen, English Civil War, American Civil War and WWII battles, plus grand parade of all participants through the ages. Large numbers also took the opportunity to have a really close up view of the re-enactors in a second arena, and visited the ongoing living history encampments.
Admission (Sunday)
Adult just
£5.00p, OAP/under 16s £3.00p, Family £15.
Participating historical groups (both days)
As usual with our events, we only invited top groups to take part, ensuring authentic yet entertaining displays;
Ancient Greek: The Hoplite Association
Romans: The Ermine Street Guard and The Colchester Roman Society Plus: Horses Impossible chariots (Sunday)
Viking: Ormsgard Dark Age Theatre
Renaissance - Fahnlein Uri
English Civil War: English Civil War Society
Napoleonic: The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1815, The 68th Regiment of Light infantry, and 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles.
American Civil War: The Southern Skirmish Association
Victorian: The Heilbron Commando
World War One (and in particular, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Somme): The Vickers Machine Gunners Society, Croix de Guerre, History Horse and The 16th Lancers..
World War Two: The World War Two Living History Association, World War 2 Display team (with their 25-Pounder), 21st Army Group (C.M.P.) Living History Group, Za Oberonya and Blackout Volunteers.
1950s: British army during the Malayan Emergency.
Vietnam era: 5th US Special Forces Group, 3rd Mobile Strike Force, 1966
1980s: Forces 80
Additional groups and performers who would like to take part in future events like this one are invited to contact us for more details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation.
How to get there
Abbey Field, which after the event quickly reverted to being a public park, is most conveniently reached via Circular Road North, off Mersea Road, Colchester, Essex.
Sorry, only the army can conspicuously arrive by air! So if driving, enter Colchester via the A133 Colchester by-pass then follow the red & white “Colchester Garrison” signs. These should direct you to the A134 (Southway/ Magdalen Street) running through the centre of the town. At the St. Botolph’s Circus roundabout, turn up the B1025 Mersea Road and then right at the Colchester Garrison sign into Napier Road (which becomes Circular Road North).
The venue is about 10 minutes walk from the town centre and railway station.
* Although road works played their part in this, the Army and Police recommend that visitors aim to arrive earlier rather than later to avoid congestion at future festivals.
A brief history of re-enactment
Interested in how and why re-enactment has become so popular in recent years? Click on the link to read a history of re-enactment.
Other events 2006
Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan this summer.
Back to 2006 events Links to EventPlan Home Page EventPlan News
Updated 29 November 2006