Christmas Tree Maze in Östersund Vandalized

In a disappointing turn of events, the Christmas Tree Maze in Östersund, Sweden, which opened last Saturday, has been severely vandalized. The maze, created by Destination Östersund, had quickly become a popular attraction, drawing hundreds of visitors despite the cold weather.

Calle Hedman from Destination Östersund shared the unfortunate news:

“We spent over 130 work hours last week to get everything ready. We rented concrete blocks, bought many meters of wire and wooden poles to make all the trees stand up. Unfortunately, on Sunday morning, we were met with the sight that some people had vandalized the entire maze during the night. Most of the trees are toppled, concrete blocks are overturned, and wooden poles are broken.”

After assessing the damage, the organization has decided not to rebuild the maze due to the extensive work and cost involved. Instead, they will focus on removing the trees, leaving only the barbecue area with seating from the large Christmas tree.

A Disappointing End to a Popular Attraction

Hedman expressed his disappointment:

“It feels incredibly sad that a few individuals can destroy something that became so appreciated by so many in such a short time. The only positive aspect is that those who carried out the vandalism did so right in front of the police surveillance camera. So we hope they will be held accountable for their actions.”

The Christmas Tree Maze was constructed using recycled Christmas trees that had decorated the city center during November and December. It was originally planned to remain in Stortorget until mid-February.

Community Impact

This act of vandalism not only affects the hard work put in by the Destination Östersund team but also deprives the community of a unique winter attraction. The maze had quickly become a gathering point for locals and visitors alike, offering a festive activity during the cold Swedish winter.

While the barbecue area will remain, the loss of the maze is a significant blow to the city’s winter entertainment options. It also raises concerns about public property security and the need for increased surveillance in popular areas.

For more information about events and attractions in Östersund, visit Visit Östersund.

Source: Destination Östersund