A NEW beer festival is happening at Bishopsteignton this weekend, October 5 and 6.

Red Rocktober Beer Festival is taking place at Red Rock Brewery. The brewery is a family-run microbrewery based in a renovated barn at Higher Humber Farm.

They’re holding their own OktoberFest-inspired event to support and promote locally produced food and drink, including beer, cider, gin and street food, all sourced within South Devon.

Brewery Director Lewis Parkes said: ‘Red Rocktober is all about showcasing small independent businesses like ours. Our region inspires some high quality, artisan produce and we want to shout about it.

‘The local producers we’ve hand selected to appear at the festival are businesses who share the same ethos as us and produce quality, distinctive products.’

Festival goers will find beer from brewers in Teignmouth and Plymouth and cider from Torbay and Luton, alongside local gin and food.

To accompany the food and drink will be a line up of talented local musicians to match the talent of the local producers.

Headline act for the Friday night is six-piece band Wax Cylinder. On Saturday there’s a packed programme with sets from Jess Rowe, Manuka 2 and The Bunny Boilers.

Lewis added: ‘Running a small business in the food and drink industry is tough, especially a brewery. There are not the resources available for big marketing budgets and our margins are tight when compared with the bigger boys out there in the market. We need to support each other and encourage our communities to buy local.’

Tickets are limited so the advice is to book early and avoid disappointment. Festival goers can also take a tent or camper and stay overnight for £10 per night.