In aid of ST HELENA HOSPICE, COLCHESTER & IPSWICH HOSPITALS CHARITY and MIND (MID & NORTH EAST ESSEX)

Jumbo Colchester Town Hall
Invasion Colchester logo
Invasion Colchester logo Invasion Colchester logo

INVASION COLCHESTER

SATURDAY
7 SEPTEMBER 2024

CHARACTERS & THEMED AREAS · SHOW CARS · SPECIAL GUESTS · COMPETITIONS · LIVE MUSIC

Invasion Colchester is over for another year.

Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors, charities, and associates for their incredible efforts to help us put the event on, and to help us raise as much money for charity as possible.

Thank you to each and every volunteer, performer, and costumer who gave up their time for the day to hang out with us, spread some joy, and help us collect the all-important donations.

And thank you to all of you who came along to enjoy Invasion Colchester, got dressed up, dropped some coins or notes into our buckets, and tapped you cards and phones on our donation machines. You will all have helped someone when they needed it!

Look out for characters from Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Doctor Who, Predators, Jurassic Park, Movie Princesses and more, as well as your favourite Comic Book and Movie Superheroes, plus Show Cars from TV and film, amazing live performances from some supremely talented local musicians, and fun competitions you can take part in with a great selection of prizes to be won, all coming in 2025!

If you still want to donate, check out our charities' websites for information:
St Helena Hospice, Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, and Mind (Mid & North East Essex).

We'll be sharing a full list of thankyous and 2024's grand total very soon...

What's On

ACE Comics

Culver Street East

Look out for... A host of recognisable characters from TV, film, and fantasy, plus the famous tombola

Colchester Castle

Castle Park

Look out for... A selection of historical characters taking over the castle, from Roman Legionaries and Medieval Barons to Great War Tommies

Colchester Library

Trinity Square

Look out for... A Stargate

Colchester Market

High Street

Look out for... More familiar characters from TV and film

Colchester Town Hall

High Street

Look out for... Fragers Gamerbus

Community 360

Long Wyre Street

Look out for... Incredible Star Wars displays, droids and characters

Culver Square Shopping Centre

Culver Square

Look out for... 40th Anniversary of Ghostbusters including big displays and Ectomobiles, Dinosaurs, Movie Princesses, Props Dept display (including Game of Thrones, Gremlins, Stranger Things, Wednesday, and more), Lightning McQueen, Show Cars, Stalls, the St Helena Hospice team, plus the Fancy Dress Competition

Curzon Cinema

Queen Street

Look out for... A special screening of Batman Forever at 8pm for Invasion Colchester

Fenwick

High Street

Look out for... Optimus Prime, Show Cars, and the Mind (Mid & North East Essex) team

Firstsite

High Street

Look out for... A quiet zone, lunar lullabies, lots of crafts, and a special movie screening

Lion Walk Shopping Centre

Lion Walk

Look out for... Our Special Guests, Comic Characters and Super Heroes (including Deadpool), Doctor Who Props, Predators, Steampunk, the Batmobile, DJ Fettdog, Live Music from Rob Prince, Jake Cheek, Jack Walsh, Wooden Maiden, and busker Sarah Louise, Arcade Alley, the Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity team, plus Sabacc (Star Wars in-universe card game) demonstrations!

Mercury Theatre

Balkerne Gate

Look out for... 'Don't be a Hero' film podcast

MP Galleries

Sir Isaac's Walk

Look out for... Rob Bishop exhibition and artist appearance, more characters

Other Monkey Brewing

St Nicholas Street

Look out for... A special beer for Invasion Colchester on tap at The Taproom, with a portion of the proceeds going to Invasion Colchester

St Nicholas Square

Off High Street

Look out for... Show Cars - Marvellous machines from TV and film

War Memorial

High Street

Look out for... Coasters Scooter Club featuring a scooter ridden by Phil Daniels in Quadrophenia, plenty of gear on display, and music


Scroll down for more details...

Fancy Dress Competition

Mary Poppins Fancy Dress Supergirl Fancy Dress Star Lord Fancy Dress

Fancy winning a cool prize just for dressing up as your favourite character from TV and film? Are you aged under 14? If so, you're in luck as the Invasion Colchester Children's Fancy Dress Competition is taking place in Culver Square Shopping Centre on Saturday, 7 September!

There will be three different age catergories - 4 and under, 5-8 and 9+ - and First, Second and Third placed prizes in each category.

To get your hands on a prize, put on your best costume, bought or home-made, head in to Colchester city centre for Invasion Colchester, and make sure you’re near the judging area in Culver Square Shopping Centre at the alloted time.

The Fancy Dress Competition area will be roped off and only the children entering the competition will be permitted into the area - unless the children are really little, parents will be asked to stay behind the rope to avoid unecessary crowding.

Once the competitions have been judged and the winners have been awarded their prizes, a group photograph will be taken.

Good luck!

Competition Timetable
Age Range Judging Time Location
4 and unders 11.00am Culver Square
5-8 year olds 12.30pm Culver Square
9+ 2.00pm Culver Square

2024 Prize Draw Winners

This year, 1647 tickets were sold, raising £1647 directly for Mind (Mid & North East Essex). This amount will be added to the overall Invasion Colchester 2024 total.

The draw took place on Friday, 27 September 2024 at ACE Comics. Winning ticket numbers are listed below, and the winners will be contacted in due course...


  • 0023
  • 0083
  • 0218
  • 0257
  • 0274
  • 0372
  • 0489
  • 0504
  • 0805
  • 0938
  • 0951
  • 1070
  • 1081
  • 1135
  • 1334
  • 1420
  • 1451
  • 1678

Thank you if you bought tickets and contributed to this fantastic donation, and congratulations to all of the winners!

Special Guests

Martin Ballantyne

See more

Special Guests

Ty Hurley

See more

Special Guests

Clem So

See more

Special Guests

Bern Collaço

See more

Special Guests

Chris Bunn

See more

Special Guests

Martin Ballantyne

See more

Special Guests

Ty Hurley

See more

Live Music & Entertainment

Live music has always been something that Invasion Colchester is keen to promote, showcasing some amazing artists from the local area.

As well as impromptu performances from busker Sarah Louise, 2024's line-up features a brilliant mix of musical talent to entertain your ears throughout the afternoon in Lion Walk, including Rob Prince, Jake Cheek, Jack Walsh, and Colchester legends Wooden Maiden!

Live Music Line-Up
Time Artist
12.00pm Rob Prince
1.00pm Jake Cheek
2.00pm Jack Walsh
3.00pm Wooden Maiden
DJ Fettdog will play through the day

Show Cars

Optimus Prime
Batmobile
Scooter

Invasion Colchester has featured some famous Show Cars at previous events, from Batmobiles, Trandformers, and the Ecto-1, to Cop Cars, Mr. Bean's Mini, and the 'Back to the Future' Delorian.

This year will be no exception with reams of recognisable rides on display in St Nicholas Square, Culver Square, and on the High Street, So come along to Invasion Colchester on Saturday 7 September and get up close and personal with some magnificent machines!

Other Monkey Brewing

Invasion Ale

You can wet your whistle during Invasion Colchester thanks to the fabulous Other Monkey Brewing, who have paired up with us once again to craft a special beer for the event

The beer will be on tap at The Taproom with a portion of the proceeds going to Invasion Colchester!

othermonkeybrewing.com

Come in Costume and Travel on Colchester Park and Ride for Free!

Anyone visiting Invasion Colchester in costume / fancy dress will be able to travel on the Colchester Park and Ride for free*.

The regular fares are listed below.

Colchester Park and Ride
Adult £3.00
Child (between 5–18 ) £1.00
Under 5's Free
Concessionary £1.50
Park and Ride will be operating 05:30am – 21:30pm
* Terms & Conditions apply
Batman at Colchester Castle

Batman

at Colchester Castle

Check out this amazing gallery from Batman's visit to Colchester Castle!

View the Gallery
Batsignal

Get in Touch

Whether you're interested in joining the cast of costumed characters, want to help us raise as much as possible on the day, have some fantastic ideas on how we can raise even more money than before, or if you would just like a little more information, you can use the form below to get in touch with us.

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