Saddle Up for Philly's Oktoberfest at The Armory

Just a little over a week to go until we all need to put some semblance of a plan together for how to attack 9/27 in the Philly region. First to Oktoberfest in Center City Philadelphia, which looks to be a huge hit amongst festival-goers. Then, decide where to make last call...TJs in Paoli or Victory in Downingtown for each of their fall festivals. If you only make it to one of these three events, I have little doubt that you'll have a great day. But, judging from the forums, there'll be at least a few of you trying to make it to all three. The Oktoberfest in Philadelphia will be held at a venue that I've seen many times in the past, but only from the outside. Finally, I have the opportunity to see what is behind the imposing walls of the First City Troop Armory, between Market and Chestnut streets on south 23rd street. Approximately 50 regional and international breweries are promised during the main session which is scheduled to run from 1:00pm-5:00pm. A special VIP session starts at noon, with attendees receiving free food, "special beer," and a commemorative one-liter Spaten (the event's lead sponsor) beer stein. Tickets are available on line. Single tickets are $45.00; VIP tickets are $75; Designated driver tickets for $15.00. If public transportation is your thing (and with SEPTA's increasing late-night service, there's becoming less reason for it not to be your thing when out carousing in the city), the Armory is a short walking distance from 30th Street Station and other SEPTA bus, rail, and high speed lines. Philly Oktoberfest 2008 is a production of Philly Beer Fests LLC and proceeds will benefit Philly Beer Week 2009 and breast cancer research. UPDATE: Check out Joe Sixpack's article in today's Philadelphia Daily News for more background on Oktoberfest here and in Germany.