Chicago based Hairbangers Ball will headline, along with three Rockford bands, Cylinder 6, Bullet, and Static Signal, will also perform live during the event which starts at 4pm until Midnight. And to keep the party going, Octane’s Dan Minick will D.J. between live music sets, right on Main Street. Businesses hosting the event include District Bar & Grill, Kryptonite Bar, Kiwi Bar & Restaurant, Octane Bar & Restaurant, and J. R. Kortman Center for Design & Gallery.
Each of these venues will “take it to the streets” with outside bars featuring “Octoberfest-style” specialty beers, distinctive drinks, and food. A new feature at Blocktoberfest will be a complimentary beer tasting station where attendees can sample the special beers being offered at each of the Main Street District outside bars.
“This is a great way to celebrate the last days of mild weather in the Fall and enjoy the outside on the streets of the Downtown Main Street District with great entertainment, food and drink,” says Chris Wachowiak, owner of Kryptonite and festival organizer. “All of these businesses are within a city designated festival zone, so we are able to close off the blocks around State & Main and feature ‘open container’ allowing festival goers to carry beverages on the street from venue to venue.”
Jerry Kortman, co-owner of J. R. Kortman Center for Design, said this is the second in a series of Main Street District celebrations. “The Downtown 2-Block Party in August was such a success everyone was looking forward to another street party before the weather got too cool to enjoy the outside,” said Kortman.
The Octoberfest celebration will go on rain or shine says Andy Rio, co-owner of District Bar & Grill. “Even though this is a street festival, it’s happening right out in front of our businesses, so if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we can easily move the party inside each of our establishments,” said Rio.
There will be three entrances to the Main Street District during the Downtown Blocktoberfest. Attendees of the event should enter either at State and Wyman Streets, North Main and Mulberry, and South Main and Elm Streets. Parking for the this summertime street festival is available in the parking decks, surface lots, and streets around the State & Main district.
Admission to the Downtown 2 Block Party is $10 per person at the gate.
What: “Bloctoberfest” a Fall celebration presented by the Main Street District businesses featuring entertainment from Hairbangers Ball, Cylinder 6, Bullet, and Static
When: Saturday, October 12th, from 4pm until midnight
Where: Main Street District, 100 blocks of North & South Main Street and the 200 and 300 block of West State Street.
Admission: $10. at the gate