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Bloktoberfest, an all-day celebration of beer, food, music and Philly, is returning for its fourth year this Saturday, October 13 from noon to 8 p.m. (Top left photo courtesy South Street West, top right courtesy South of South Neighborhood Association, bottom left courtesy Bloktoberfest)

The booziest block party west of Broad Street is back this Saturday, October 13, with eight hours of beer, food and music.

Bloktoberfest, returning for its fourth year, takes over South Street from Broad to 18th Streets from noon-8 p.m. There’s so much to look forward to, including dozens of brews, a great selection of local restaurants and food vendors and headline-worthy bands from around the Philadelphia area and country.

Below is our guide to everything you need to know before you get your Bloktoberfest on:

The Beer

Whet your whistle with any of the 27 beers lined up for the 2012 Bloktoberfest, presented once again with the partnership of Bella Vista Beer Distributor. Check out the full list here. In addition to those brews, some of the breweries will be tapping special goodies in very limited supply throughout the day. Be sure to follow Bloktoberfest on Twitter for the lowdown.

Beer (served in 12oz cups, same as a standard six-pack bottle or can) will be available at several different locations spread out across the festival’s four blocks, including the Express Beer Zone designed to minimize waiting lines and ensure that your next beer is never more than a minute or two away. Bonus: the staff of Bella Vista will be delivering kegs directly from their warehouse at 11th and Fitzwater continuously throughout the day, so the suds will be pouring without interruption.

The Food

This year’s Bloktoberfest will feature its widest selection yet of local eats. As always, restaurants along the festival route will be serving their dishes curbside (Jamaican Jerk Hut, The Cambridge, Rex 1516, Magpie, Sweet Freedom, Quick Fixx, Jet Wine Bar, Sawatdee), while food trucks from across the city roll into Graduate Hospital as well: Chewy’s, Dapper Dog, Gozen Yogurt, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, Say Cheese, Sweetbox, Vernalicious and more.

The Music

A great block party calls for great music, right? Bloktoberfest will once again feature a great lineup of live music, a mix of nationally recognized and emerging local acts, on two stages.

The main festival stage will be located inside at Jamaican Jerk Hut’s outdoor lot. Bands and DJs will be on hand to entertain the crowds throughout the day and well into the night, as Bloktoberfest moves off the street for an official after-party from 8-11 p.m.

Beyond the main stage, guests can enjoy performances on the SOSNA Stage at the intersection of 16th and South Streets, with a spotlight on local musical talent from the South of South Neighborhood and surrounding community.

Kid-Friendly Entertainment

Despite the strong emphasis on beer, Bloktoberfest is decidedly family-friendly. The fest will feature an array of free activities for families on the 1700 block of South Street. Think face painters, balloon artists, dancing, science demonstrations from the Franklin Institute, pumpkin painting with artists from the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and more.

Tickets

A Beer Bracelet is $15 online/$20 day of, and comes with three drink tickets. A Bonus Beer Bracelet is $25 online/$30 day of, and comes with five drink tickets. Each ticket is good for one beer of any kind at the festival. Once you get a bracelet and want more drink tickets, they’re five bucks each at the event (cash only).

Online ticket sales ($5 cheaper than at the event) close at noon on Friday, October 12. So get a move on. Proceeds from beer sales go towards neighborhood charitable causes, including Julian Abele Park and Catherine Street Park, as well as the Clean & Green programs of the South of South Neighborhood Association.

Bloktoberfest 2012
When: Saturday, October 13, noon-8 p.m.; after-party from 8-11 p.m.
Where: South Street from Broad to 18th Streets
Cost: Free to attend; pay as you go for beer
More info: www.bloktoberfestphilly.com