Contestants needed for facial hair competition for Men's Health / Mental Health Awareness Month

A UAF employee sports his beard during the Starvation Gulch event
UAF photo by Julia Aikman
Joshua Jessup at Starvation Gulch

Anyone may participate in the Facial Hair/Bearding Competition at UAF's Polar Grizz Festival on Friday, Nov. 22 from 6-8 p.m. in the Wood Center Multi-Level Lounge. Registration ends Nov. 20.

This fun event supporting a good cause is beginner-friendly and also open to those who cannot grow facial hair with a creative category!

Welcome to the world of bearding — where growing, grooming, and showcasing your fabulous facial hair becomes an exciting sport!

Bring your family and friends along for a wild celebration of the bushiest, most stylish, and downright quirky beards in town. Step up and show off your chops, bristles, and whiskers, and become Interior Alaska’s ultimate facial hair connoisseur!

But bearding is more than just a sport; it’s a movement! It’s all about coming together and tapping into the inner power that helps you be the best version of yourself. The confidence and strength that come with the beard are truly contagious, inspiring everyone around you!

The Grand Prize will be chosen by the Audience. Each contestant will have their own voting box, and audience members can cast votes by purchasing tickets at $1 each. The more tickets a contestant collects, the better their chances of winning the coveted Bearding Competition Trophy and Grand Prize! All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to NAMI ĚÇĐÄvlogąŮÍř and Interior AIDS Association, supporting men’s mental health and health services.

So live life on the razor’s edge and join the competition! Not only will you have a blast, but you’ll also have a chance to win a Beard Trophy and fantastic prizes!

In addition, a vendor and resource fair will also be held from 4-6 p.m. before the bearding competition in the Wood Center Ballroom. We’d be thrilled if your department, class, club or business would want to sign up to table.

This “Movember” let’s unite in raising awareness and standing together against testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and suicide. Join us in making a difference while celebrating the glorious art of bearding!

For more information, contact Julia Aikman at 907-474-6368 or jeaikman@alaska.edu.