PHEW. ToM is only just recovering from a weekend of celebrating Transylvania in Albert Square when along comes Manchester Bierfest to add it own extra oompah to the spring.
This family-friendly event made its debut last year as a spin-off from the hugely popular travelling Oktoberfest, celebrating all things Teutonic but basically about necking steins full of foaming beer.
They are keen to kit you out in the appropriate gear, too. There’s a link in their website where you can purchase lederhosen and dirndls, which we couldn’t resist illustrating below.
The Bierfest (Thur, May 18 and runs to Sun May 21) is centred round a wooden German Village and 2,000-capacity Biergarten, which are free to enter with tickets required for the 300-seater Bavarian FestTent, which features DJs and, we understand a certain amount of table dancing.
Outside there are stalls selling kitschy crafts alongside schnitzels, bratwurst, pretzels and lobster thermidor (OK, we made that last one up), which you can wash down with a range of lagers and dunkels or, for those of you missing your prosecco, Germany’s sparkling wire, Sekt.
There’s a separate child-friendly area complete with traditional German games.
Thu 18 – Sun 21 May, Manchester Bierfest, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 4JW. For opening times and to book tickets visit the website.