Lederhosen and frothy beer at the ready! Next month will see an Oompah-packed Oktoberfest coming to Essex. The Bavarian themed beer and folk festival will take place at Central Park in Chelmsford over the weekend of October 6 and 7.

Visitors will not only be able to order bier steins galore but also feast on traditional Oktoberfest snacks such as sausages and pretzels. (www.oktoberfestessex.co.uk for tickets and more info).

The event is being styled on the world famous Oktoberfest held in Munich, Germany from mid September until the first week of October.

Each year around six million people from all over the world cram into the festival’s giant tents as seven million litres of beer is guzzled while Bavarian music plays in the afternoon followed by more modern pop music in the evening.

Oktoberfest, known locally as Wiesn, is said to have begun in the year 1810 as an event to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sace-Hildburghausen. The royal newlyweds deemed the party so great that they wanted to repeat it every year and so Oktoberfest has been celebrated in Munich every Autumn since.

If you can’t jet off to Munich, there are plenty of beer, ale and cider events coming up in Essex in addition to the Chelmsford event. So grab your glass or tankard and get set to raise a toast…

*Starting on September 11, The Crooked Billet in Leigh will play host to the National Beer Showcase (www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/beershowcase) – one of the UK’s biggest celebrations of Britain’s best breweries, featuring an impressive 28 new beers. A selection of unmissable events will take place throughout the six-week long celebration, including guest talks from beer sommeliers and breweries, workshops, tastings, exclusive offers and competitions.

*From tomorrow (Friday September 15) until Sunday (September 17), the Desert Island Barrels Beer Festival will be taking place at the Purleigh Bell in Purleigh, near Maldon. Varieties will include Woodefordes Wherry, Jennings Sneck Lifter, St Austells Proper Job, Nethergate Old Growler, Oakhams JHB Elgoods BlackDog, Mighty Oaks Oscar Wilde, Harviestouns Bitter and Twisted to name but a few

*Brentwood Brewery in Calcott Hall Farm, Brentwood will be hosting its own Oktoberfest on Saturday September 23. The event will run from 10.30am-5.30pm and will feature a wide range of Elephant School Beers as well as the brewery’s take on a few classic German styles. As for food and snacks, the theme continues with Currywurst and other German snacks. Plus there will be live music. Entrance is free. Dressing up Bavarian style is of course optional but there’s a free pint in it for anyone wearing Dirndl or Lederhosen.”

*The Golden Lion pub in North Street, Rochford is holding a beer festival from Tuesday September 26 to Monday October 2. The event will feature more than 30 real ales as well as seven real ciders, food and live music.

*The Billericay Brewing Festival takes place in Chapel Street, Billericay from Thursday September 28- Sunday October 1. More than 20 varieties of beers and ciders will be on offer to customers.

*Over 30 real ales, ciders and perries will keep customers’ thirsts at bay at the Witham Public Hall Real Ale Festival from Friday September 29-Saturday September 30 . Event will be on from 12pm-11pm both days at the hall in Collingwood Road, Witham.