A beloved event that brings dog enthusiasts together is set to return to Colchester next month, with an exciting day planned for both humans and their canine companions.
The annual Bark in the Park event will be held at Lower Castle Park on the Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This year, the event will be hosted by the RSPCA Essex Mid and North branch, in collaboration with Hospital Radio Colchester, which will also be holding its family fun day at the same venue and time.
Bark in the Park offers dog lovers the chance to gather for a day of entertainment, with a variety of activities for both pets and their owners. Admission will be £5 at the gate, and attendees can enter their dogs into one of ten fun categories, with entry fees of £3 in advance via Eventbrite or £4 on the day.
The dog show will feature a wide array of competitive categories, including Best Boy, Best Girl, Cutest Puppy (under 12 months), Golden Oldie (for dogs aged seven and up), Best Rescue, and Perfect Pedigree. Other categories include Cutest Crossbreed, Best Trick, Best Young Handler (under 16), and the Musical Sit Game, a playful twist on musical chairs.
A panel of guest judges will select the winners of each category, and Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell will judge the overall Dog of the Day award from the class winners.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the former mayor’s charity fund, supporting local causes such as Colchester Pride, Guts UK, the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD), Support Our Paras, and the RSPCA Essex Mid and North branch.
The day will also feature a variety of entertainment, including funfair rides, bouncy castles, a duck race, live music, dance performances, a magic show, and dog agility demonstrations aimed at young participants.
Derrick Yapp, Income Generation Manager at the RSPCA Essex Mid & North Branch, expressed excitement about leading this year’s Bark in the Park. “We’re thrilled to be leading this year’s event as one of the Mayor of Colchester’s chosen charities,” he said. “It’s a celebration of the mayor’s passion for dogs and her legacy of supporting community events like this. Partnering with Hospital Radio Colchester, which has a long history of hosting family fun days here, is a great opportunity for us to bring the community together.”