Eighty-five bearded and mustachioed members of the Association of German Beard Clubs will head to Carson City for the World Beard and Moustache Championships on Nov. 1.
Five competitors are from England -- three of whom are members of London's Handlebar (mustache) Club.
"We're delighted we already have 85 people coming from Germany alone," said organizer Phil Olsen of Tahoe City. "We're expecting competitors from several other countries as well."
Olsen's planning committee will hold the event on the Brewery Arts Center campus in the afternoon after the Nevada Day parade.
They plan to close Minnesota Street and erect an Oktoberfest-style tent between the old BAC and its new Performance Hall.
The group will also reserve the Community Center gymnasium, in case the turnout is too large for the arts center.
"We don't want to miss the opportunity to have a really big event," Olsen said. "This is a one-time opportunity for Carson City to to get international attention for the Nevada Days celebration."
The annual Nevada Day Beard Competition, hosted by Charlie Portia, will be held on the Capitol steps following the parade. Competitors in the World Championships will march in the parade in costumes. They'll carry a banner inviting the crowd to the arts center for the competition. The tent will have a live band, food and beer.
Olsen, who sports a long dark beard, and Carson City Special Events Coordinator Kevin Ray will make a presentation to the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau on June 9, asking for a $4,000 grant.
"The CCCVB has said this is exactly the kind of event they can support because it puts heads in beds," Ray said.
On June 10, the pair will take their presentation to the Nevada Day Inc. board meeting for support support. The commitment the Nevada Day board will make to the international competition has yet to be decided.
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World Beard and Moustache Championships
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