Bury St Edmunds Oktoberfest 2019 draws crowds to Nowton Park

More than 1,000 dressed, ate, socialised and, most importantly, drank beer in German spirit to celebrate the second Oktoberfest in Bury St Edmunds.

Crowds gathered inside two large tents in Nowton Park on Saturday afternoon (October 5) to raise a glass to a 'growing event'.

Thomas Janes, of organising firm Deutschfest, said it was a sell-out - with punters donning traditional German lederhosen and dresses.

"It went really well last year, so we organised this second event, which was also a success," he said.

"It was bigger than last year, around 1,000 people came and it sold out before it started - which made things easier for us, as the organisers."

Deutschfest also organise a Frühlingsfest (spring festival) and seek to create an event and atmosphere that is a fitting tribute to the German tradition.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest 'folk festival' - a gathering involving parades, music, food and drink. It has been held annually in Munich since 1810 and the popularity has seen it expand across Germany and into other countries.

The Munich event now runs for 17 days, but in Bury the excitement was crammed into one afternoon inside the walled garden part of Nowton Park.

Mr Janes continued: "We try and be as German as possible and meet demand for this growing event.

"The majority of people who came were from Bury and we work with local traders to stage it. We also had hot dogs on sale and traditional German breads."

Drinkers had a choice of three beers and one cider - with the AVK type proving the most popular.

Mr Janes said the success of the event could see it return next year.

- More pictures will be featured in the Bury Free Press this Friday (October 11).