A taste of Bavaria comes to Kirkcaldy this weekend when the Town Square is transformed into a German beer hall.

The beer and music festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday in a marquee on the square, has been organised by the Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association.

And locals are invited to come along and join in the friendly festival atmosphere.

The last beer festival was held back in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the twinning link between Kirkcaldy and Ingolstadt.

Following on from its success, it was agreed that the event should take place every second year, and so here it is.

The independent HerrenBrau brewery in Ingolstadt has supplied the barrels of beer for the event.

Fifers will be able to sample both Weizen, a wheat beer and Helles, made from hops over the weekend.

The beer is brewed under German purity laws which were signed in Ingolstadt in 1516.

And to go along with the beer, there will be a German foodstall and Scottish fayre on site.

That’s in addition to a packed programme of music that’s running throughout the four days. The music will be led by bands from the twin towns – Mailing Brass Band from Ingolstadt, and Kirkcaldy and District Pipe Band – with support from local musicians including Dysart Brass Band, Sangsters, Fife Strathspey and Reel Society, The Coaltown Daisies, Folk That and Bruce Davies.

For the duration of the festival, Fife Council has agreed to fly the Ingolstadt flag to represent the friendship between the twin towns.

And a delegation from the Bavarian town will be in the Lang Toun for the event.

Robert Main, chairman of Kirkcaldy Ingolstadt Association, said: “Our friends from Ingolstadt arrived safely.”

And final preparations for the opening are being carried out before the festival opens this afternoon (Thursday).

He told the Press: “The tapping of the Traditional Wooden Cask will take place in the Marquee on Friday evening at 8.00 p.m. and this pleasurable task will be carried out jointly by David Torrance MSP and City of Ingolstadt Councillor Brigitte Fuchs.

“The weather forecast is promising but I am sure that if any rain does fall it will not dampen any of the community spirit in supporting the community event.

“There is no admission fee into the marquee and the opportunity is there for all to savour some of the Bavarian atmosphere.”

Over 8000 people are expected to attend the event and the aim of the festival is to build on the community fellowship, fun and friendship success from the last time it was held.