The Baldock Beer Festival launches today for its seventh year.

The festival will run until May 4, at Brandles School, on Weston Way, Baldock, and will recognise the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Some of the money raised from the not-for-profit event will be donated to the British Legion, who have agreed to support the festivities by helping to sell glasses over the weekend.

And with the help of Buntingford Brewery the Baldock Beer Festival Committee have brewed their own ale called Kitchener, which can be savoured over the weekend along with the special cider Over the Top created by Apple Cottage.

The festival will be open from 5-11pm today (Friday), 12-11pm on Saturday and 12-8pm on Sunday.

Approximately 60 beers from local and national independent breweries will be on offer and the finalised list will be released on the committee’s website (www.baldockbeerfestival.org/real-ale/) prior to the weekend.

There will be plenty of entertainment during the festival to keep the kids amused with a bouncy castle, balloon man, mini steam train rides, non-permanent tattoos and face painting on offer.

Over the course of the weekend there will be a BBQ with hot dogs and burgers (including vegetarian), Indian food from The Bombay Bistro, a pizza van, Mexican food, as well as ice cream, waffles and a sweet store for those with a sweeter tooth.

The Guides will be selling craft work and there will be an annual raffle with the opportunity to win a large cuddly toy and all proceeds going to support cancer charities.

There will be music across the weekend from 7.15-8.45pm in the Main Stage and 6.45-9.15pm in the Balstock Stage today, 1-11pm in the Main Stage and 2-10pm in the Balstock Stage on Saturday and 12-8pm in the Main Stage and 12.30-6.30pm in the Balstock Stage on Sunday.