THE dates for two returning beer festivals have finally been announced after much anticipation.

Worcester Beer, Cider & Perry Festival and Oktoberfest Worcester will both once again be held at the city’s Grand Stand Road racecourse, in August and October, respectively.

Last year, the CAMRA-organised festival saw over 200 beers, 120 ciders and 30 perry’s on offer.

This included 15 beers from Worcester and further options from nearby Pershore, Malvern, Bewdley, Stourbridge and Kinver.

The festival is set to take place from Thursday, August 9 to Saturday, August 11, it was announced on the Worcester Beer Fest Twitter page on Monday.

Festival publicity officer Bill Ottaway, speaking before last year’s event, said: “With so many different beers, ciders and perry’s to choose from there is bound to be something for everyone.”

Meanwhile, on the same day, the second Worcester Oktoberfest was confirmed for Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20.

The Worcester version of the long-running 18-day German beer and folk festival, held in Munich since 1810, attracted between five and seven thousand people last year.

To be held inside one of Europe’s largest bier tents, the Bavarian-style festival will include authentic Oompah bands, as well as German foods and steins.

Following news the event would be returning on the Oktoberfest Worcester Facebook page, which is liked by 3,231 users, Jason Ford said: “Had a great time last year! Danke.”

While Tom Webb said: “Let the hangover commence.”

A statement from the organisers said: “After an amazing 2017, with Worcesters first ever Oktoberfest, we are proud to be returning for 2018 for a huge weekend of traditional Bavarian entertainment, food and drink.”

The original Munich Oktoberfest began to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sace-Hildburghausen. CAMRA was founded in 1971 and campaigns for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.

Visit worcesterbeerfest.org.uk and oktoberfestworcester.co.uk for more.