Guinness hats, giant screens and thousands of glasses - including two-pint steins - are at the ready as Paddy Fest prepares to welcome its first wave of partygoers this evening.
The four-day celebration for St Patrick's Day gets under way inside its giant marquee in Newcastle 's Times Square at 7pm and will continue with as much music, food and drink as it is possible to squeeze in between now and late Saturday night when it will wrap up with a grand finale party.
A 25-metre bar running the length of the marquee is all set for serious business and, besides the adjacent music area to host bands and Irish dancers, there are big screens showing live coverage of Six Nations matches.
Read more: what's happening around St Patrick's Day in Newcastle
Final preparations were under way on Wednesday afternoon to receive first guests, including awaiting the arrival of the Meat:Steak team who are to provide a special menu at the outside food area which will complete the Paddy Fest party picture.
For those planning to join the mega-party this week - which runs each evening until late and includes two sessions on Saturday - here's what to expect over the festival's four-day run.
Paddy Fest 2022
What's on offer at the bar
Guinness, naturally, but also a wide range of other tipples including craft beers, spirts, wine, prosecco and cocktails.
Pints are around £5, with Stella and Magners Dark Fruit at £5.50; Guinness at £5.80 with whopping steins (two pints) options also available.
Wine is £20 a bottle (red, white or rose) and spirits are £4 (£7 for a double).
Cocktails - espresso martini, passion fruit martini and pink gin martini - are £9. There's also a cherry cooler cocktail jug option.
Entertainment programme
Wednesday , March 16 - the entertainment programme starts with a Bingo Bonanza event this Wednesday.
Thursday - St Patrick's Day itself - a Let's Play Darts even is set to draw an expected 1,500 party-goers who can go head to head with professional darts players for a chance to win prizes. It costs 50p to play nine games.
Friday - A huge sing-along Kroud Karaoke XL event will set the mood for the evening and guests are being promised a soundtrack of all the "usual party favourites".
Saturday - this Super Saturday finale event - which will include authentic Irish dancers - will feature coverage of the Six Nations final day throughout the afternoon and evening. No doubt dressing up - think green - will be a big thing.
The Wales versus Italy match will kick off at 2.15pm followed by the Ireland and Scotland game at 4.45pm - both ideal timing for the festival's afternoon session - and then France will take on England at 8pm during the evening.
Festival food
Newcastle cheeseburger favourite Meat:Stack is setting up a food outlet outside the marquee and included on the menu will be Guinness and Irish whisky-theme options which have been created specially for Paddy Fest.
There also is a non-meat choice.
West Coast Classic - double or triple cheeseburger, with Stack Sauce and shredded lettuce - £7/£9
Quarter Pounder - double or triple cheeseburger, with smoked streaky bacon and 'fixings' - £7.50/£9.50
Ulster Fry - double or triple cheeseburger with potato hash brown, bacon, white pudding, tomato relish, Jameson Irish whiskey sauce, BBQ sauce and Stack Sauce - £9/£11
Cheesedog - a deep-fried 'ripper style' sausage topped with Guinness cheese sauce, crispy onions and Jameson Irish whiskey BBQ sauce - £8
Slugger - Fakey fried 'chicken' with chipotle lime sauce and lettuce - £8.50
Fries - £3 and Guinness cheese fries - £4.50
Tickets
It's always a good idea to book, if you want to be sure of securing space for a particular event, but it's not essential so if you happen to be in town and fancy a spur-of-the-moment visit then just pop along.
Seating is at long bench tables but these can't be be pre-booked so if you're in a big group and want to sit together then you should arrive early to bag your seats.
Final release tickets (which will come with an added booking fee) are currently available at £4 for Wednesday evening; £14 for Thursday and £12 for Friday and each of the Saturday sessions. There are also some free student ticket options for the Saturday night.
To book and for more information see the Paddy Fest website here.
For the latest 'What's On news, announcements and reviews direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
