Organisers of the Edinburgh Oktoberfest have been left counting the cost after Storm Amy forced the cancellation of the popular city-centre event, leading to the loss of around 7,000 litres of beer and thousands of servings of bratwurst and schnitzel.
The annual celebration of German beer, food and live music had been due to take place in a large tent in Princes Street Gardens West from 3 to 5 October. However, extreme weather conditions brought by Storm Amy meant the park was closed to the public on Friday evening, forcing organisers to cancel the weekend’s events.
The storm, which brought winds of up to 100 miles per hour and heavy rainfall across Scotland, caused widespread travel disruption and power outages throughout the weekend.
In a statement released on Monday, organisers confirmed the event would now be postponed until next year, with all ticket holders due to be contacted by email.
They said: “Hi Edinburgh, most of you wanted to roll over to next year so it makes no sense to be back in three weeks. We will send out an email confirming you have the tickets for next year and what to do.”
You Might Also Like:
The organisers added that the festival did not have insurance cover for such extreme weather and were forced to dispose of the food and drink that could not be salvaged.
“We were not prepared for this, no insurance, and now have to destroy 7,000 litres of good beer, thousands of bratwurst and schnitzel and much more. We wish we could distribute it to you all,” they said.
Despite the setback, the team behind the festival remain optimistic about its return next year. “Let’s fight the wind together,” they added. “Next year we will bring fresh beer and make the best party ever with all of you.”
