Gardiner — Holds 12 Beards. One beard falls off.
Swine & Stein Brewfest, one of Gardiner’s largest annual events, returns for its 15th year with free samples of beer, wine, cider and more throughout the day, as well as a marquee facial and hair contest. Ta.
For both organizers and participants, the competition is the highlight of the day’s festivities.
“They live this all year long,” Mike Micron told the crowd while running the tournament. “Their work means nothing, their families mean nothing, their victories mean nothing. Their follicles mean everything.”
This year, seven finalists were chosen from a field of 12 contestants with braided beards, handlebar mustaches and spiky mohawks. Kyler Carty of Boothbay won the top prize for sporting a beard that he has been growing for seven years.
“I want to dedicate this win to my buddy Bill, who passed away this year,” Carty said. “This is my first time coming here. My friends always come and invite me, so this is my first year here.”
Pittston resident Adilynn Bernier, 8, left, plays rock-paper-scissors qualifying Saturday at Gardiner’s annual Swain & Stein Brewfest, hosted by Mike Micron (center) and Maria Bickford of China. to play against. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
The finalists lined up “like cows,” Micron told the crowd of about 200 who had gathered to watch a panel of judges carefully inspect each beard up close.
After about 15 minutes of deliberation, the justices reached an impasse. Spectators of the competition were tasked with rooting for their favorite contestant to determine the winner. Carthi’s beard easily took top honors.
Organizers say this year’s Swine & Stein Brewfest drew about 1,500 people. This year was the city’s 15th annual celebration of beer, cider, wine, beards and community.
Downtown Gardiner was closed for the day, and breweries, cideries, distilleries and meaderies from around the area set up tables and booths on Water Street and offered free samples throughout the day.
Gardiner Mayor Patricia Hart said the event is the largest fundraiser for Gardiner Main Street, which aims to promote a vibrant downtown district.
“Swine & Stein has definitely helped us introduce Gardiner to more people. They keep coming back to shop, eat, and see shows. This is a great thing for the city.” she said earlier this week.
Logan Manter of Pittston takes a bite of a classic cheesecake with strawberries from The Perfect Circle Cheesecake at the annual Swain & Stein Brewfest on Main Street in Gardiner on Saturday. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
Dawn Thistle has volunteered at Swine & Stein every year for the past seven years. Thistle, who is also director of the Gardiner Public Library, said Swain & Stein provides one of the largest and most vibrant expressions of the community in Gardiner.
She volunteers at Gardiner’s many community events each year, strengthening the diverse community she and the library foster. In her view, none of these events compare to Swine & Stein.
“It’s so lively and exciting to take part in. I love these events that not only bring in locals but also people from further afield to see all that we have to offer. ” she said. “I love hearing people leave and say, ‘That was so much fun!’” And now they come back every year. ”
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