World Beer Festival is like Christmas for beer lovers. It’s a four-hour chance to sample hundreds of beers that would cost you hundreds of dollars to try if you attempted to buy them on your own.

By now, you probably know I’m a huge fan of World Beer Fest because I love good beer. (Read my reviews of these fesivals: Raleigh 2008, Durham 2008, Raleigh 2009). I was shocked to receive an e-mail yesterday from the organizers saying the Oct. 3 festival in Durham wasn’t sold out yet. Could it be because it’s the same day as the U2 concert or Raleigh Typhoon scavenger hunt?

The event has sold out for the past seven years or so, according to organizers. They suspect it won’t be long before tickets are gone. You can buy tickets here.

This year the event is back at the Durham Athletic Park, the old (but newly-renovated) ballpark where Kevin Costner played ball in Bull Durham. The park (not to be confused with Durham Bulls Athletic Park where the Bulls currently play) just received a $5 million facelift from the city. Last year, organizers had to move the Durham festival to the newer ballpark because the old one was being overhauled.

I called up All About Beer Magazine editor Julie Bradford to find out some details about this year’s event. Here’s what she had to say:

“It’s neat to be coming back to the old ballpark because it’s such a beautiful location. I’ve been to a lot of festivals, and I don’t think I’ve seen a more attractive venue somewhere or a more characterful one.”

She offered six tips for first-time (or seasoned) World Beer Festival goers:

*Get some advice. She suggested making your first stop the All About Beer tent, where you can get a list of beer flights to help you organize your tastings. She also noted that every hour on the hour there will be tastings at the tent featuring a speaker who can teach you something about the beer you’re drinking.

* Wear comfortable shoes. I agree with this one and will add that it’s a good idea to avoid open-toe shoes or flip flops because your feet may occasionally be stepped on in crowded beer tents by tipsy sippers.

* Pace Yourself. I always bring a water bottle with me and fill it up whenever I can. Drinking a lot of water helps prevent a hangover.

* Take a lot of breaks. There will be quite a few tasty food vendors on site. So leave the tents, chow down and sit down.

* Feel free to ask questions. Julie suggests asking servers what to expect. They’ll usually describe what the beer should taste like and might even offer insight into the brewing process. Talking to strangers and brewers is very fun at beer fest.

* Don’t be afraid to throw out beers you don’t like. It’s good to push the envelope a little and try beers you’re not sure you’ll enjoy. But you’re not obligated to finish a sample you don’t like. So pour it in a bucket or in the trash can and start afresh.

Finally, I’m one of those weirdos you’ll see at the festival with a pretzel necklace on. I asked Julie if she knew how those got started, and she didn’t. She pointed out that pretzels are excellent palate cleansers. I made mine last year too so I could snack between beers and not get too tipsy too quick. All you need is a piece of string (sadly, I used dental floss last year because I had no string in the house) and a bag of pretzels. Show up with your own if you want one, because I’ve yet to see a vendor selling them at the festival.

Enjoy and feel free to share your World Beer Festival experiences in the comments. I’ll be at the day session. Hope to see you there!

Also, if you’re on the fence about going or have questions about the festival, let me know in the comments section. I’ll answer you and offer honest feedback ASAP.