Highwood Toasts a Monumental Birthday with Bloody Mary Bash

Hello Readers!

We hope you are enjoying our latest edition, the Road Trip issue! In our summer cover story, we profile 10 different destinations across Illinois you might consider for your next event. Another we wanted to add to the mix has a big event coming up.

The city of Highwood, Illinois (tucked away just north of Highland Park) is celebrating its 125^th birthday this month, and in honor of the landmark, they’re gearing up for a bloody good time with the Third Annual Bloody Mary Fest. Skip brunch on Sunday June 24 and get your Bloody Mary fix at Everts Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festivities, sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka and Vintage Vine Bloody Mary Mix, include a competition to determine the “Best Bloody Mary Mix” in the Midwest. Vendors from all over the country’s mid-section will offer samples of their recipes to be formally judged by Steve Dolinsky, ABC-TV’s Hungry Hound; Lee Litas, dining columnist for Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press; Julie Chernoff, dining editor for Make It Better Magazine; and Aly Bockler from WCIU’s “You & Me This Morning.” One vendor will also be given the esteemed “People’s Choice Award.”

The morning will kick off with the Bloody Buddy 5K Challenge, sponsored by Running Away Multisport and Equinox and benefiting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. The 5K will include pushups, calisthenics, the fireman carry, buddy drag, piggyback carry and the US Army Major General Jimmie J. Wells Challenge consisting of 100 upper body and 100 core exercises, as well as a running course. Live music and family activities will also be a part of this special day.

If you are interested in competing, the City of Highwood is asking bars, restaurants and professional and amateur mixologists throughout the Midwest to enter the competition and attempt to take the title from the first place 2011 winner, Gabe’s Backstage Lounge. Each competitor will receive a complimentary bottle of Van Gogh Vodka, and is responsible for bringing their own ingredients to mix the perfect Bloody Mary for the judges. Application forms are available here or by calling Highwood City Hall at (847) 432.1924.

Best Bloody Mary Mix Judges