Celebrate Highwood Hosts 9Th Annual Bloody Mary Fest Featuring 'Best Bloody Mary' Competition
Highwood's 9th Annual Bloody Mary Fest is back and better than ever! Now in its ninth year, the fest will take place on Sunday, July 29 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Everts Park (130 Highwood Ave) when vendors from near and far travel to Highwood to shake up their unique concoctions in competition for the title of 'Best Bloody Mary in the Midwest'.
Mixologists from competing bars and restaurants will have the opportunity to share their one-of-a-kind recipes with the public while attempting to create the ultimate Bloody Mary. The competition includes a 'People's Choice Award,' as well as formal judging on the 'Best Bloody Mary' and 'Best Garnish' by some of Chicago's leading media personalities, including: Lee A. Litas, Freelance Food and Features Writer for Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press, Sherry Thomas, Group Media Editor of JWC Media, Sheridan Road, North Shore Weekend and Daily North Shore, Andrew Nicks, President at 22nd Century Media, Susan Noyes, founder of the Make It Better Foundation, Monica Pedersen, HGTV television host and interior designer, and Eric Falberg, Highwood Alderman and founder of Bloody Mary Fest. Contestants will be evaluated on taste, presentation, spice, color, texture and garnish.
The battle for the Best Bloody Mary starts at 2 p.m. when the judges will evaluate each contestant's take on the classic drink. People's Choice ballots can be cast in front of the judges stage until 4 p.m., and winners of both the Judge's and People's Choice will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Bloody Mary Fest is sponsored by Master of Mixes and Van Gogh Vodka who will provide a bottle of Van Gogh Vodka to each competitor to concoct their creation. The winners of Bloody Mary Fest will be rewarded with a trophy, mass recognition throughout the local media, and bragging rights for the entire year!
Returning to defend their titles amongst determined competitors will be 2017 People's Choice winner for 6-years running Toadstool Pub, 2017 Judge's Choice and Best Garnish winner, Scotty's on Sheridan, and 2017 Most Creative winner, La Casa De Issac,
Bloody Mary Fest attendees will enjoy plenty of food, drink, live entertainment by various artists and a selection of craft beer from local Kings and Convicts brewery that brews ales and pilsners with hops and malts from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and England.
"Highwood's Annual Bloody Mary Fest brings the entire community together and attracts thousands of visitors from all over Chicagoland, including Wisconsin and Indiana," says Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood and Highwood Alderman. "We love tasting all the amazing flavors and seeing the elaborate garnishes people come up with. It truly is a must see event."
For those eager to begin tasting without waiting in lines, a limited number of Guaranteed Rate FastPass wristbands are now available for pre-purchase on the Bloody Mary Fest event page at www.CelebrateHighwood.org/bloody-mary-fest, enabling those lucky few to jump the line for 10 drinks throughout the day. The cost for a FastPass is $25 and does not include drink price. FastPass pick-up will take place at the ticket booth on festival day.
Bloody Mary Fest attendees will enjoy fantastic food, drinks, and live entertainment all day long by Jennifer Fletcher and the Reckoning, and Tim Gleason Band. For those that may not be Bloody Mary fans, don't fret, the Fest will also offer plenty of activities and other beverages for attendees of all ages. Making it easily accessible, Highwood is a stop on the Union Pacific North Metra line and is only a short walk to the Fest grounds at Evert's Park.
Special thanks to Celebrate Highwood Bloody Mary Fest Sponsors Fields Auto Group, Guaranteed Rate, Highland Park Bank & Trust/Bank of Fort Sheridan, Kings & Convicts Brewing Company, Master of Mixes, Power Home Remodeling, Renewal by Anderson, Van Gogh Vodka, Wheeling Town Center, and Wyndham Vacation Ownership.
For more information on Bloody Mary Fest, please visit https://www.celebratehighwood.org/bloody-mary-fest/.
For more information on all of Celebrate Highwood's 2018 series of family friendly festivals and events, please visit www.celebratehighwood.org or www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood.
ABOUT CELEBRATE HIGHWOOD:
Celebrate Highwood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity established in August 2016. Managed and operated by volunteers, our mission is to bring community together to raise funds for local and national charities. Through producing events that cater to the citizens, businesses and visitors of Highwood, our goal is give back, build strong community spirit, and establish Highwood as THE prime entertainment destination for dining, festivals and events on the North Shore. For more information on all of Highwood's festivals, please visit www.CelebrateHighwood.org, www.facebook.com/celebratehighwood, or call 847-432-6000.