Great music mixed with a pint or two of locally brewed ale is a popular way to pass a relaxing weekend.

Eastern Daily Press: Rig a jig jig will be performing at the Fakenham Beer & Folk Festival.Rig a jig jig will be performing at the Fakenham Beer & Folk Festival. (Image: ©archant 2013)

And with the third Fakenham Beer & Folk Festival just around the corner there is the perfect opportunity to just that - and raise money for good causes.

The festival has been growing in size and reputation over the past couple of years and this year, for the first time, it will see music right through the weekend of March 21 to 23.

Doors open at 7pm on the Friday and music starts at 8pm with Fried Pirates. On the Saturday (open 11am to 11pm) there is a two-hour invited guests folk session followed by music from Samphire Muzic, Litchfield, Tom Thompson & Friends and Datty Shud. Sunday sees doors open from 11am to 3pm and music from Rig-a-Jig-Jig.

The event will raise money for KickStart Fakenham, which was set up to help promote and publicise the businessess and community groups in the town, and the community centre where the festival is being held,

Lisa Mallett, secretary for both organisations, said the weather might play a large part in encouraging people out to the event.

'Last year it was snowing so if it stays like this it will be lovely,' she said.

'On previous years we have mainly focused the music on the Saturday but this year it will be right through from Friday night to Sunday lunchtime and all the musicians are giving up their time for free.'

She also said there would be more ciders on offer among the casks.

'We have had 18 beers and two ciders before but this time we are getting more cider because they are becoming more popular and everything will be as local as possible.' She added: 'In the past it has been mostly adults coming along but there is no reason why families can't come and enjoy the music with their children.'

Soft drinks, wines and spirits are also available.

Aldiss are sponsoring the festival glasses again - £12 will buy you a glass and six half-pint beer tokens.

For more information, timings and full line-up visit www.kickstartfakenham.org.uk.