Knaresborough Lions’ Charity Beer Festival is back this year after a year away with members eager to raise as much as they can for charity.

Coronavirus cancelled the 2020 festival but this year the Lions are back with their charity beer festival next weekend, Friday August 20 to August 22.

In previous years the festival has raised up to £4,000, with 80% of the funds staying locally. The Lions distribute the funds to numerous community and charity causes as well as to individuals and families identified by social services as in need of extra support.

The pandemic meant a number of the group’s usual events, including the Bed Race and Christmas Market, couldn’t go ahead so they’re hoping to make up for it this year.

The beer festival will be held in the assembly rooms inside Knaresborough House. Numbers will be regulated indoors so there is no overcrowding.

Mike Pyle, president of Knaresborough Lions said:

“There will be a running barbecue operated by Andy from McQueens, with separate vegan and street food on the Friday evening and all day on Saturday. Sunday, as ever, is pot luck day to see what’s left.

“The town feels like it is ready for a party and in conjunction with feva we are delighted to bring our beer festival back.”

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The Saturday afternoon section of the festival will run alongside the feva festival‘s Picnic in the Park.

Organisers promise there will be something for everyone with beers like Bad Kitty, Ay Up, Pale Rider, Screech Owl and Strength in Numbers as well as prosecco, wine, soft drinks and ciders.

Entertainment will be provided by Chorus Crew and Paul Watson on Friday. Saturday afternoon will be devoted to feva’s line-up in the gardens, with Paul Mirfin and Paul Watson playing later.

Sunday afternoon visitors will be entertained by the Tewit Youth Band.

The beer festival runs across the weekend; 7-11pm on Friday, 12-11pm on Saturday and Sunday from midday.

Women on Tap, a community interest company in Harrogate celebrating females in the beer industry, is to stage its fifth festival from June 9 to 13.

The company, which was established in 2017 by Harrogate beer enthusiasts Rachel Auty and Andrew Cameron, has previously hosted four festivals.

Ms Auty hopes the festival will encourage women to explore beer and break the stereotype that it’s a man’s drink. She said:

“I’ve always been a beer drinker and I noticed that women drinking pints was seen as strange.

“I got in touch with women brewers and realised I wasn’t alone in seeing the gender stereotype, so I wanted to start something that would encourage women to be involved in the beer industry.”

Women on Tap’s 2020 festival involved a series of virtual events, including online beer tasting sessions, art exhibits, quizzes and talks from women, about women.

Women on Tap Festival in 2018.

The 2020 festival achieved a global reach, with people from as far as Australia joining in. This inspired Ms Auty to keep parts of this year’s festival online.

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But it is hoped there will be live events, depending on the latest government guidance when it takes place. She said:

“We obviously have to work with guidelines, but we have high hopes that at least two-thirds of the festival will go ahead live, even if that’s a tasting for two households in a Harrogate independent brewery.”

On International Women’s Day on March 8, the organisation set out to get 20 sponsors giving £300 each to fund the festival.

Today, exactly one month on, Women on Tap gained its 20th sponsor.

Ms Auty said she can’t wait for pubs to reopen on Monday.

“I’m so excited to see Harrogate hospitality reopen its doors, everyone seems so energised.

“Harrogate Brewing Company opens at 4pm on Monday, so you’ll bet I have a table booked at 4pm on Monday!”