When it comes to revitalizing downtowns and drawing a crowd, there’s nothing quite like beer.

The craft brew phenomenon was embraced 22 years ago in Kennett Square with Brewfest, an event that has grown to include well over 100 breweries. The 22nd annual festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28. Paired with its cold-weather companion, Winterfest, the event has raised crucial funds for Historic Kennett Square, and introduced a whole new world of craft beers to thousands of people.

While small breweries have put down roots across the nation, people often can’t try their wares unless they travel to far-flung operations where the products are available. The big draw of festivals like Brewfest is that visitors can sample signature brews from places across the nation, all in one day.

For those who are serious about their beers, there’s a Connoisseur Tasting from noon to 1:30 p.m. that offers rare and unusual beers available nowhere else. Tickets are $85. After that, the main festival opens at 1:30 and continues through 5 p.m., with more than 100 breweries set up under tents and offering samples of several of their signature beers. Tickets are $55 and include unlimited sampling and schmoozing with friends and beer makers. Designated driver tickets (not including beer sampling) are $15.

Bands will be performing throughout the day, and there’s a food court area with several themed food trucks selling meals and snacks.

After purchasing tickets online (details at www.kennettbrewfest.com), ticket holders will get a cup for 2-ounce samples of beer. No one under 21 is admitted, and pets are prohibited. Brewfest is held rain or shine, and most of the event is under tents. It’s held at 600 South Broad Street, Kennett Square. Parking meters on the street are enforced from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available in the Kennett High School lot from 1 p.m on, and in the entire parking garage on East Linden Street (meters inside parking garage are not enforced on Saturday). A shuttle will run from the Linden Street Parking Garage to the Kennett Brewfest from noon to 5 p.m.

Once inside, beer fans can enjoy some of their favorites, and discover a whole world of specialties they’ve never had before. The list of participating breweries includes:

 

2nd Story Brewing Co.

2SP Brewing Co.

Abomination Brewing Co.

Allagash Brewing Co.

Argilla Brewing Co.

Aston Abbey Brewing Co.

Bald Birds Brewing Co.

Ballast Point Brewing

Barrier Brewing Co.

Be Here Brewing Co.

Bellfonte Brewing Co.

Bell's Brewing

Benediktiner Weissbier

Black Mammoth Brewing

Bog Turtle Brewing

Braeloch Brewing

Breaker Brewing Co.

Brew Gentlemen

Brick Works Brewing

Brothers Kershner Brewing Co.

Cape May Brewing Co.

Cigar City Brewing

Collective Arts Brewing

Collusion Tap Works

Colony Meadery

Conshohoken Brewing Co.

Crime & Punishment Brewing Co.

Crowded Castle Brewing Co.

Dew Point Brewing Co.

Dock Street Brewery

Dogfish Head

Double Nickel Brewing Co.

Dressler Estate Cidery

East Branch Brewing Co.

Elk River Brewing Co.

Ever Grain Brewing Co.

Evil Genius Beer Co.

Fat Head's Brewery

Fegley's Brew Works

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Flying Dog Brewery

Flying Fish Brewing Co.

Foreign Objects Beer Co.

Founders Brewing Co.

Free Will Brewing Co.

Funk Brewing Co.

Great Barn Brewery

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Haymaker Meadery

Heavy Seas Beer

Hidden River Brewing Co.

Highway Manor Brewing Co.

HitchHiker Brewing Co.

Imprint Beer Co.

Jack's Abby Brewing

Kennett Brewing Co.

La Cabra Brewing

Lake Placid Brewery

Levante Brewing

Locust Lane Craft Brewery

Long Trail Brewing Co.

Mainstay Independent Brewing Co.

Manayunk Brewing Co.

McKenzie Brew House

McKenzie's Hard Cider

Mispillion River Brewing

Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co.

New Trail Brewing Co.

Oskar Blues Brewery

Otter Creek Brewing

Platform Beer Co.

Rebel Hill Brewing Co.

Rebel Seed Cidery

Rotunda Brewing Co.

Round Guys Brewing Co.

Saranac F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Ship Bottom Brewery

Singlecut Beersmiths

Sly Fox Brewing Co.

South County Brewing Co.

Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Spider Bite Beer Co.

Springdale by Jack's Abby Brewing

Sterling Pig Brewery

Stolen Sun Caft Brewing & Roasting Co.

Stone Brewing

Stoudts Brewing Co.

Suburban Brewing Co.

Three 3's Brewing Co.

Tired Hands Brewing Co.

Tröegs Independent Brewing

Tuned Up Brewery

Twin Lakes Brewing Co.

Two Robbers Craft Hard Seltzer

Une Annee

Urban Village Brewing Co.

Victory Brewing Co.

Von Trapp Brewery

Well Crafted Beer Co.

Wilmington Brew Works

Workhorse Brewing Co.

Wyndridge Farm Brewing

Zeroday Brewing Co.