Later this week, beer lovers will be able to tour some of Greater Manchester's pubs as part of a special anniversary trail. Almost 100 boozers across the region will throw their support behind this year's 'Mild Magic' Ale trail as it marks its 30th anniversary. The annual event kicks off from Friday, 12 April and is the biggest national ale trail to support the mild beer style. The celebration, organised by Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA, will feature 97 pubs from across Manchester, Salford , Stockport, Tameside , Trafford , and new for this year, Macclesfield. Running until Sunday, 19 May, pubs are divided into 71 different geographical areas and punters will need to drink at least half a pint of mild before collecting a sticker to put on the collector card, available in the pubs taking part as as a download. READ MORE: It's one of Manchester's most iconic places. The man who runs it is 'sick of it' Mild Magic participating pubs range from those in Swinton and Altrincham in the west to Ashton, Glossop and Marple in the east. There are numerous pubs with mild in the centre of Manchester and Stockport, and out to the south as far as Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Macclesfield. The first Mild Magic, then called the Mild Trail, was held in Spring 1994, and involved 50 pubs. Apart from four years it has been held annually since. It was created to boost drinkers’ interest in mild, a beer style which developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Marble Arch is one of the pubs taking part at the 'Mild Magic' Ale trail which returns this April (Image: Manchester Evening News) Nationally, mild has been in decline for many years, however it has been well represented in the Greater Manchester area - some local breweries still produce milds all year round. One is Mild Magic sponsor, Hydes, who brew Dark Ruby and 1863m and this year will be resurrecting some old recipes including a light mild available in May. Also supporting the category, Joseph Holt’s supply their cask mild to around a dozen pubs year-round and for the third year running will be brewing a special ‘one-off’ for Mild Magic. Meanwhile, Brightside Brewing from Bolton also produce a number of different milds throughout the year. CAMRA Branch Chairman John Clarke said, “From starting life in 1994 as a celebration of the widespread local availability of mild, Mild Magic essentially became a search and rescue operation as one brewery after another dropped the style. For example, the 1999 Ale Trail coincided with the announcement that Boddingtons were axing their mild, and, later on, Robinsons stopped brewing their cask mild.” The annual event kicks off from Friday, 12 April and is the biggest national ale trail to support the mild beer style (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) “In more recent years, there seems to have been something of a revival, with many smaller brewers having a mild available for short periods. The 1999 Mild Trail would have had around 20 different milds available during the five-week run; last year there were around 70.” Organiser Darren Berry added: “The Mild Magic organising team is very grateful to our sponsor, Hydes Brewery, and to all the other breweries that will be producing milds this spring. Thanks also to the pubs which have agreed to take part. Please support them and enjoy yourselves seeking out this rare ale style.” As part of the trail, participants can win prizes of polo shirts and sweatshirts, plus more beer vouchers, for visiting 24, 48, or all 97 pubs. To win a T-shirt featuring this year’s Mild Magic logo, and two half-pint mild vouchers, punters have to visit twelve different pubs in twelve different areas, then drink half at least half a pint of mild. Participants can also win b espoke clothing and beer vouchers to exchange for mild ale at the Stockport Beer & Cider Festival between 20-22 June. To find out about the pubs taking part in this year's Mild Magic Ale Trail, visit the CAMRA Stockport and South Manchester website here .