A sign reading “2 days to Palmerfest” hung outside a house on Palmer Street yesterday. The countdown will end Saturday, when one of Athens’ annual weekend block parties gets underway.

Though not all of the students living on Palmer Street are prepared for the street fest this Saturday, almost everyone plans to throw a party.

“It’s a blast,” said Ohio University senior Matt Barran, a former resident of Palmer Street. “There aren’t a bunch of out-of-towners like Halloween weekend.”

Palmerfest started when concerts used to be performed around Palmer Street in the summer, said OU senior Mike Broxterman, calling Palmerfest an OU tradition.

Students living on Palmer Street are excited about their party, which follows Friday’s Oakfest, OU junior Mitch Baldwin said.

On Wednesday evening, students were still planning their parties. Baldwin, who lives at 17 Palmer St., said he is still planning his house party, which will include 17 kegs.

OU student Jarrett Stamper and his roommates debated a reasonable cash prize for their wet T-shirt contest, while senior Adam Noll made plans about grilling to keep party guests well fed.

Senior Matt Lasher said most people plan to start partying early and he looks forward to playing cornhole all afternoon. However, students need to be careful to avoid being arrested by police, Lasher said. Athens police reported only nine arrests last year during Palmerfest.

Police and university officials suggested that students use fences to keep underage students out of parties, Noll said, adding that his house will not put up fence.

“We don’t believe in fences,” Noll said, explaining that he and his roommates had no problems with guests or police last year.

Most students are not concerned that strangers will stop by their houses unwanted, Baldwin said.

“Everyone is planning on throwing a party,” Noll said. “(Palmer Street) is the perfect-sized street for a block party.”