The name may have changed but the warmth is still there as Winter Weekends returns to the East End this Friday with its cosy firepits and delicious food and drink.

Known as Winter in the East End last year, the event will see city streets and laneways decorated with firepits, performances from fire twirlers, live music and local business offerings on Friday and Saturday nights from July 24 until August 29.

Belgian Beer Café venue manager Annie Medlen said the popular pub is grateful to participate again this year.

“We found it quite amazing last year, it definitely brought in a crowd and I think people are really drawn to that, so we’re really happy to be able to do it again,” Medlen said.

“Winter can be very dreary, and a lot of the time businesses suffer during this period because of that.

“We’re excited to be a part of it this year, I think it creates a certain type of atmosphere.”

The Belgian Beer Café will be joined by a selection of businesses including craft beer and whiskey bar NOLA, which has created warm cocktails especially for the firepits in their extended trading area.

Wine bar Mother Vine is offering their Options Flight, a selection of three wines poured blind with a series of multiple-choice questions about the wines to keep it interesting.

Breakfast and brunch café Laneway Espresso will be joining the fun and will remain open until late to whip up espresso martinis made from their freshly ground barista coffee.

Firepit locations in the East End for the six weekends will include Rundle Street, Vardon Avenue, Franks Lane and Ebenezer Place and they’ll all follow the event’s COVID-19 Safe Plan.

Sara Della Verde from East End property organisation Maras Group believes the success of the program last year was because the East End appeals to a broad range of people.

“It’s aimed at pretty much anyone, from the five o’clock Friday crowd who just want to get a drink after work, to those  who just want to float through after dinner and see what’s going on,” Della Verde said.

“[Last year] we had a lot of positive feedback from traders, so we really wanted to partner with the City of Adelaide again and do it this year.

“The initiative is designed to get extra patronage in the area during winter, when people tend to stay home and don’t really venture out as much.

“Enjoying a drink in front of a fire is something you can only do during the colder months, why not embrace that while you can? We want to encourage people to visit the area during winter and enjoy the restaurants, bars and everything it has to offer.”