To grow, maintain and groom the perfect beard is a serious procedure for folks in Carson City and Virginia City.
During this time, both communities are competing against each other to win the most awards from the annual Nevada Day Beard contest.
But this year the contest will be even more at the center of attention, thanks to the new McFadden Plaza on Third Street.
“Since the plaza is new and it’s in the middle of downtown, where’s a better place to showcase?” said Nevada Day Inc. President Janet Baker. “People can sit, watch, eat and drink during the contest.”
“We’re going to have a great turnout because of this,” said Perry Nixdorf, committee leader and owner of Paradise Salon & Spa. “Last year, we shared a stage and we couldn’t fit all contestants. But we’ll have more control of the stage at the McFadden Plaza this year.”
Nixdorf said contestants from Virginia City would draw some crowds, as Piper’s Opera House has a Beard Contest Hall of Fame. However, Carson City bearded them out last year by winning in majority of the categories, Nixdorf said.
Those categories include the most groomed, the longest, thickest, scruffiest and more. Then, it will all boil down the Most Bearded Community award.
Those decisions will be assigned to two, first-time judges. Jason Hadwick, men’s stylist at Paradise Salon & Spa will be judging for the first time. Along with Hadwick is beard lover Connie Johnson. For Nixdorf, this will be his first time emceeing the event.
Teri Vance will judge the contest for the second year in a row.
The event starts immediately after the Nevada Day parade (about 2 p.m. Oct. 29).