A POWYS town’s answer to the iconic German festival, Oktoberfest, is taking place tonight.
Hydref (October in Welsh) is taking place at the Strand Hall in Builth Wells tonight (Friday, November 17), from 7.30pm until late.
“Get ready for a night of music, merriment and a tribute to Oktoberfest,” said organisers.
“Join us at Strand Hall for an unforgettable evening with The Midways. This event, brought to you by Hydref, promises to be a night filled with live music, an October feast, sing-alongs and traditional ale and beer.
“Not only will you have a fantastic time, but you'll also be supporting a great cause. Proceeds from the event will go towards Builth Wells Community Support. Let's come together and make a difference.
“Featuring special performances by the Cardboard Box Thieves and the Cardboard Cut-Outs, this is an event you don't want to miss.”
Tickets are still available for £12 from The Fountain, Strand Cafe and Builth Wells Community Support.
The event had originally been scheduled to take place in October, but was moved due to Wales’ possible involvement in a Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Taking place for the second year, Hydref was created by local businessman Elwyn Davies, who decided that he wanted to use turning 40 into a community affair; with the hope it would become an annual event in the Builth calendar.
Oktoberfest is held annually in the German capital Munich and has been a staple of Bavarian tradition since first being celebrated in 1810.
It is a 16 to 18-day folk festival running from mid or late September to around the first Sunday in October, with more than six million international and national visitors attending.
During the event, large quantities of beer is consumed – in 2014 7.7 million litres were served, the most ever drunk.
Visitors also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, side stalls and games, while a wide variety of traditional Bavarian foods are also available.
Over the last 200 years, other cities across the world have also mimicked Oktoberfest celebrations, modelled on the original Munich event.
Rather than being a simple carbon copy of Oktoberfest, however, Hydref has a more traditionally Welsh and Celtic and folk twist.
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