Toronto is about to get a a dose of some retro amusement. The 1st annualBeer & Ball Festivalis set to go down atHandlebarin Kensington Market from May 11 to 15. What does the new festival entail? Pinball, craft beer, and live music, something of a holy trinity for those who like their gaming on the vintage side.

There will be five nights of pinball tournaments (it's $3 to compete) starting at 7pm with nightly prizes from local businesses likeThomas LaversandSanagan's Meat Locker. A tap takeover from (fittingly) theKensington Brewing Companyis also in the cards.

The music programming will be a mix of live acts and DJs, but the idea is that the music and games will match up in some way. Intriguing (though I guess if you have enough to drink, all sorts of connections start to appear).No fun Torontomightnot like pinball machines taking up much spacein bars, but the idea of a five day festival sounds like the perfect compromise.

The Beer and Ball Festival takes place May 11-15, with a preview on Sunday, May 10th. Check outHandlebar's events calendarfor more information.