A Battle is Brewing at Schooner Wharf Bar

Costumes, cocktails, fun fundraising, and bribes for bragging rights combine in an afternoon of competitive chaos at Key West’s classic waterfront watering hole.

Schooner Wharf Bar’s 25th Annual Battle of the Bars is slated for Sunday, Aug. 5th, when teams of bartenders, customers, servers and supporters from local establishments compete in an alcohol-fueled obstacle course. And in typical southernmost style, the hilarious hijinks help local charities. 

All money raised at this year’s Battle of the Bars will benefit the Southernmost Boys & Girls Club, which provides affordable child care for Key West’s hard-working families, and the Sister Season Fund, which provides financial assistance to the local service industry.

Since its start in 1994, Battle of the Bars has raised $338,954 for a variety of local charities, with last year’s Battle raising $19,202.

“This event has a long tradition of helping the non-profits in our community, and the Boys and Girls Club is extremely grateful to be part of this wonderful day of giving,” Dan Dombroski, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, said with heartfelt gratitude.

Julie Hanson, President of Sister Season Fund, added, “We are very excited about being a part of Battle of the Bars this year, and all of the proceeds raised and donated to our organization will be put right back into our Key West community, for residents working in the hospitality industry. ”

Registration for the Battle starts at 11 a.m. at Schooner Wharf on Sunday, Aug. 5th, and teams can enter right up until the day of the Battle. For spectators, the charity hilarity starts at 1 p.m. with the Opening Ceremonies.

The battle features teams of seven (three of whom must work at the competing establishment) in a rowdy relay race against the clock and each other.

Team members must mix a margarita, maneuver around obstacles and serve it to a teammate who tackles the next task in the relay that requires racers to finish a drink, sort recyclables, tap a keg, pour seven draft beers, and carry them on a tray across a balance beam to their waiting teammates. Each member must finish the beer and turn the empty cup upside down on their heads.

The fastest and most accurate teams advance to the next round. But slower teams can pay their way into the next round by bribing the judges. Of course, as the competition heats up and the drinks go down, the obstacles get trickier, the times get slower and the bribes get more generous.

The top teams (1st through 3rd) take home trophies, but the real winners are this year’s local charities that benefit from all the bribes and registration fees.

Prizes are also awarded for Deepest Pockets for the team that’s most generous in its bribery and also for Most Outrageous Team Costume.

Sebago Watersports‘ team, “All You Need is Kiss”, dressed last year first as The Beatles in a yellow submarine, then as Kiss for the next round, and won the Best Costume title. Southernmost Beach Café’s “SoMo Savages” took second place with their Wrestlemania theme.

Spectators have as much fun as the racers while enjoying all-day drink specials at the legendary last little piece of Old Key West.  So come spend a summer Sunday at Schooner Wharf Bar, where the 25th annual Battle of the Bars tests skills, speed and sobriety –- in support of two special charities.

There’s still time to enter your team — until the morning of the event. To enter in advance, call 305-292-3773 or stop by Schooner Wharf Bar.  To register the day of the Battle, muster at Schooner Wharf Bar’s Sail Loft at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5th.

For general information about the bar or the Battle, visit schoonerwharf.com or call 305-292-3302.

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