Beer festival bonanza

A poster for the Pudong New Area Expo Beer Festival

As the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws to an end and the summer heat gets stifling, what could there be worth looking forward to in July? Beer festivals, of course. Here are three for you to choose from.

Expo Beer Festival

On Thursday, a number of Chinese pop stars will gather at Broad Auto Theme Park on the east bank of the Huangpu River to raise the curtain on the first Pudong New Area Expo Beer Festival.

The opening ceremony will last from 7 pm to 9 pm, with performances from Taiwan pop singer Chang Yu, who's known for singing passionate love songs; multinational pop band Wuzhou Changxiang, which is comprised of six singers from five continents; and Lingdian, a pioneering Chinese rock band established in 1989 and made up of five rock'n'roll veterans.

The festival, which lasts until July 13, is divided into three theme areas. In the beer wagon area, visitors can enjoy premier beers from around the world while watching live performances by DJs and dancers. The food area offers both Western dishes and snacks from different parts of China. The handicraft market area will have vendors setting up booths and selling their wares.

The China Drift Championship, which will take place in the park between Friday and Sunday, is another highlight of the festival. It will see 16 drivers present two drifting performances on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday will see the final contest between them. The event last from 5 pm to 9:30 pm each day, with tickets from 300 yuan ($48.74) to 1,180 yuan per person per day.

Date: Thursday to July 13, 5 pm to midnight

Address: 189 Guozhan Road

Admission: 50 yuan

Call 400-8218-666 for details

Takashimaya Beer Festival

Japanese beers boast a balance of bitter, sweet and sour, and the aroma of malt and hops, with different breweries offering a variety of flavors.

During the 2014 FIFA World Cup (June 12 to July 13), Shanghai Takashimaya has been holding a namesake beer festival in an outdoor area that provides a variety of beers and snacks, with a focus on Japanese beers.

There are in total 25 bottled and draft beers available at the festival.

"Besides the Japanese beers, we also recommend other beers such as the German dark beer Kostribir, which is rich and aromatic," said Wu Di from the marketing department of the host shopping mall.

Delicious snacks include German sausages, hamburgers, salad, fried potatoes and Japanese-style curry dishes. Kids can enjoy juice here as well.

Besides background music, the dining area is also equipped with two giant screens, which will broadcast the latest World Cup matches.

Date: Midday to 9 pm, Fridays and weekends only, until July 13

Address: 1438 Hongqiao Road

Admission: Free

Call 2223-2688 for details

Jinshan International Beer Festival

This year, Jinshan International Beer Festival will be held at Jinshan City Beach from Saturday to July 13. Participating beer brands include Belgian light beer Keizerrijk Van Bree, which has a lingering yet smooth taste, Belgian premier amber-colored beer Palm, and beers from Warstiner Presentation, one of the largest privately owned breweries in Germany.

Each night from Saturday to July 12, a number of participating beer brands will launch their own promotional activities, in which visitors can enjoy beers at discounted prices and win coupons and other prizes.

Golden Jaguar restaurant will be offering a buffet and barbecue at the festival as well, presenting visitors with a wide range of choices at the price of 180 yuan per person, which also includes an admission ticket to the festival.

The festival also involves interactive entertainment activities as well as a market selling Jinshan local seafood.

Date: 10 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm on Saturday, Sunday and July 11 to 13; 5 pm to 10 pm between July 7 and July 10

Address: 5 Xincheng Road

Admission: 20 yuan to 40 yuan

Call 6729-3027 for details