Tickets for the opening and closing parties at Norwich's City of Ale festival are now on sale, and organisers are also holding a competition to win five pairs of tickets to the launch party.

The third City of Ale festival in Norwich runs from May 23 to June 2, and again celebrates all that is good about local pubs serving local beers made from local ingredients.

The previous two events have helped establish Norwich as the UK's City of Ale, and this year's event follows the hugely successful Camra national AGM and members' weekend in the city on April 20.

Co-chairman of the 2013 City of Ale event, Dawn Leeder, said: 'The competition asks people to complete this sentence: Norwich is the UK City of Ale because...

'It's your chance to say why you think Norwich is the UK's City of Ale. We're giving away five pairs of tickets to the launch party on Thursday, May 23 for the five most convincing and concise responses.'

Yesterday's City of Ale meeting at the Earlham Arms in Earlham Road, Norwich was told that 42 pubs and 39 breweries have signed up for the festival. Thirty-five breweries and 45 pubs took part in last year's event.

The meeting was also told that real ale lovers who attended Camra's AGM in the city have vowed to return for the City of Ale festival.

Phil Cutter, landlord at the Murderers, in Timberhill, said: 'A lot of people said that the AGM weekend was not long enough, and that they would be coming back for the City of Ale.'

Meanwhile, the winner of a beer-naming competition set up to support the Norwich and District Branch of the Normandy veterans' return to France to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June next year, has been announced.

The branch needs to raise £20,000 to fund the trip. Norfolk's Wolf Brewery is producing a special cask ale, and the competition to name the beer attracted a good crop of suggestions. The winning name, 'Monty's Gamble', was suggested by Andy Malcolm, from Norwich, who wins two tickets to the launch party and an 18-pint demi-pin of the ale.

The City of Ale official launch party at St Gregory's Church starts at 6pm on May 23 and ends at 11pm. The closing party on June 1 is at the same venue, from 7.30pm to 11pm.

Ticket only – £5 to include two free pints of beer, food and entertainment. Tickets available at The Murderers, The Rose Inn, Ketts Tavern and online through Skiddle.

The next meeting of City of Ale, which will be the last before the festival starts, is at 10am on Monday, May 13 at the Murderers.

david.bale2@archant.co.uk