As we say goodbye to summer, it's time to say hello to an autumn full of fun at Alton Towers with the return of Oktoberfest.

For the second year running, visitors to the Staffordshire theme park are able to enjoy the festival in a Bavarian-themed venue at the heart of the park.

There's German food and beer, live entertainment and of course loads of rides suitable for all the family.

At 1pm every day from September 11 to October 3, 2021 live music takes over the whole of Mutiny Bay with two stages offering a wide range of entertainment including the wonderful 5-piece oompah band, German Jukebox.

New for 2021 is the Bierkeller located in Mutiny Bay’s Courtyard which offers a relaxing atmosphere for anyone who wants to sample authentic German biers while singing along to German tunes.

For foodies a selection of street food including German meatballs is also on offer alongside traditional food stands selling pretzels, hog roast sandwiches and toasted marshmallows.

We visited on opening weekend for the second year in a row and had a lovely day out.

Dudley News: Entertainment at Alton Towers Oktoberfest. Credit: Alton TowersEntertainment at Alton Towers Oktoberfest. Credit: Alton Towers

We couldn't get enough of the toasted marshmallows, which cost £2 per giant marshmallow and you could toast at your leisure around a fire pit.

And good news for thrill seekers, while the park was buzzing with excitement the ride queue times weren't too long at all with the longest queue time being just 30 minutes!

In terms of Covid restrictions, the park is running at a lower capacity and there are hand sanitising stations all around the grounds.

How to get tickets to Alton Towers Oktoberfest

Park guests can enjoy Oktoberfest celebrations as part of their ticket price from £34 when booked in advance.

Or if you're a regular at the theme park, why not invest in a Merlin Annual Pass which gets you access to more than 25 attractions across the country, including Alton Towers.

The pass is back after a year long break due to Covid lockdown restrictions.

Passholders can also take advantage of other benefits from Merlin, unlocking further savings with each visit, including up to 20 per cent discount on food, drinks and retail, up to 20 per cent off short breaks at Resort hotels with Merlin Holiday Club.

A Merlin Monthly Membership gives families the opportunity to split the cost throughout the year with payments starting from £14.99 for the Gold Membership option plus a one-off sign-up fee of £49.99 for Gold Pass and £59.99 for Platinum Pass.

You can buy a Merlin Annual Pass on the website.