GETTING HAIRIER
Beard and Mustache Competition grows
this Celebration BY ALI ENRIGHT
W
alking the streets of
downtown
Eugene
can be an adventure.
On any given day you
might encounter a
unicycle-riding cowboy, a man tattooed from
head to toe, exotic animals (or at least a cat
on a leash), pierced people, painted people,
naked people and most defi nitely bearded
people. Now there’s a forum for all those
hairy folk to go head-to-head in a contest at
the Eugene Celebration’s Beard and Mustache
Competition.
The competition, organized by Andrew
Lardinois and Tim Boyden, is sure to appeal
to all bearded fellows. In terms of categories,
there’s the full-natural beard, the full beard
with mustache, the Fu Manchu, the sideburns
with muttonchops and full goatee, as well as
the Dali category.
Lardinois says Eugene is a perfect place to
P H OTO CO U RT E SY F L I C K R CO M M O N S
sport a beard, mustache or heavy chops. “Our
town is a beard-positive place to live in,” he says. “I have two employers who give me no
grief for growing my beard and I expect that’s the case for many others in town.”
Boyden and Lardinois are veteran facial hair advocates. Boyden says he’s had his beard
for almost 13 years — which becomes very apparent when he undoes the tightly wound
band holding the waist-length hair together near his chin. Lardinois says his beard-growing
days started about fi ve years ago with a “No-Shave November” bet. He also gets creative
with his sideburns, shaving in designs of cowboy boots and stars.
Boyden says he hopes the competition helps create a community of hair in Eugene.
“We’re hoping to form a group around here,” he says, “a beard and mustache guild for
Lane County.”
It’s not just the fun of a furry face that gets Boyden excited about the new competition.
He says it’s a way of bringing diverse people together. “I think it draws people from a lot
of different walks of life,” he says.
Beyond the competition, the coordinators are arranging a group of hairy friends to march
in the Celebration parade, which kicks off 10 am Saturday, Aug. 25, and proceeds down
High and Pearl streets, between 19th and 11th Avenues. “Since it’s the 150th anniversary
of Eugene we’re trying to get 150 people to march with us,” Boyden says.
While these two very bearded organizers don’t expect many bearded ladies for the
competition, they’re welcoming creativity for the parade. “We’re trying to get as many
bearded people as possible so it’s open to all of the public,” Boyden says. This means that
you don’t have to be blessed with luscious facial locks to join. Artists are also welcome to
create their own masterpieces and enter the contest with faux facial art.
In addition to artistic freedom, participants are encouraged to take a walk with history
and dress up as their favorite bearded people. One can only hope to see Abe Lincoln, Santa
Claus, Walt Whitman or maybe even a cameo appearance from Jesus Christ.
Photos of the competitors will be displayed during the Eugene Celebration at Out On a Limb
gallery, located at 191 E. Broadway. Judges will collaborate and the winners will be announced
on Aug. 26, the last day of the Celebration. But don’t worry, it’s not all about the judges; you’ll
have your say too. The People’s Choice award depends on the voting of spectators. While the
competition is open to anyone worldwide, the People’s Choice is locals only.
This competition promises to give the annual Eugene Celebration Pet Stroll, which takes
place 10 am Aug. 26, a run for its money when it comes to being hairy. The SLUG Queen
will be conducting a Sliming of the Animals at 9:55 am. No word on whether bearded men
also are eligible for that honor.
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EUGENE WEEKLY AUGUST 23, 2012 13