Record editor part of judging team for annual Bloody Mary Fest this Sunday

Bloody Mary lovers are gearing up for their annual Super Bowl: the annual Bloody Mary Fest this Sunday, Aug. 18, at Events Park, 111 North Ave., in Highwood.

From the nonprofit community organization Celebrate Highwood, the Bloody Mary Fest is a competition between local bars and restaurants to create the ultimate tomato-based cocktail. Participating businesses will be competing to win the “Proud Mary” Award for their one-of-a-kind recipes.

The event runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and the winners will be announced from the main stage at 4:30 p.m.

“Highwood’s Annual Bloody Mary Fest brings the entire community together and attracts thousands of
visitors from all over Chicagoland, Wisconsin and Indiana,” said Eric Falberg, president of Celebrate
Highwood and Highwood alderman, in a press release.

Among the judges for the competition is The Record’s Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin, who said he’s “been training for this day for a long time.” Rounding out the judging panel are: Emily Schiller, founder of North Shore Social and Instagram influencer (The Style Du Jour), and Jason Pirock, who reviews bloody marys under the name Eat, Drink and Bloody Mary.

Guests can also vote until 4 p.m. for their favorite tomato-based beverage in the People’s Choice “Proud Mary” competition.

The original Bloody Mary began as a simple concoction of vodka and tomato juice. As the popularity of the Bloody Mary grew, so did the range of variants, with participating restaurants adding their own custom touches to the classic recipe. The 2024 Bloody Mary Fest will feature the Green Lady (special ingredient: tomatillos), the Michelada (beer), the Bloody Maria (tequila), the Red Snapper (gin) and more.

Attendees of all ages are welcome to enjoy food, drink and live music at the Bloody Mary Fest, which will also include a variety of food and drink, artisan vendors, and live music by Stevie Craig (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and Simply Wally Duo (2:30-5 p.m.)

For more information, visit the Celebrate Highwood website or Facebook page.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.