With upwards of 90,000 visitors expected, tomorrow St Patrick’s Festival of fun promises to be the very best ever. And, as a taster, the event’s new sponsors, Dig Brew Co. hosted a little prelude at their independent micro-brewery, in Digbeth, in Birmingham, with traditional dance and music giving a flavour of what to expect.

The exiting Scanlon's School of Irish Dancing (aged 13-16), one of the most in-demand outfits on the circuit, was on hand, as were a selection of the very best Irish musicians, as Festival organisers pulled out all the stops at the county’s newest beer manufacturers.

Of the day’s activities, Peter Connolly, chair of St Patrick’s Festival Birmingham, said: “We are so thrilled to present the St Patrick’s Festival 2019 to Birmingham and to visitors from across the globe tomorrow.

The festival family has worked especially hard this year to ensure there’s something for everyone as part of the programme.

The support from our community, from local and Irish businesses, and from the city we live and work in all help to keep this incredible civic event growing in size and ambition each year.”

Also with a second micro-brewery in Sligo, in Ireland, a delighted Dig Brew Co. Head Brewer, Donncha Burke, said: “We have 5 full-time and 15 part-time staff so to replace Guinness as the main sponsors is a very proud moment for us.

St Patrick’s Festival, which, for the first time in many years, falls on St Patrick's Day itself -March 17 – will set off from Camp Hill Island at midday before travelling along Digbeth High Street to St Martin's Church and close to the iconic Selfridges building - lit green for the occasion - before looping back again.