KAILUA-KONA — Nearly two dozen bartenders will shake up their best mai tais this weekend at the 10th annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Royal Kona Resort.
The competition, bringing together 21 contestants from throughout the country, will kick-off at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The panel of five celebrity judges will include chef and television personality Aaron Sanchez and Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, who was named one of “25 most influential cocktail personalities of the past century” by Imbibe magazine.
Prior to the competition, the festival — open to the public — will include a “Mai Tai Marketplace” featuring local artisans and merchants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A “Battle of the BBQ” will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a pool party featuring Henry Kapono from 2:30-4 p.m.
During the “Mai Tai Mix-off,” the festival’s main event, bartenders vie for the title of “Mai Tai World Champion,” a title that comes with a $10,000 prize. Second and third place winners will receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.
Bartenders’ mixes are judged based on taste, creativity and name.
This year, Kevin Beary of Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago will defend his title after coming away with the top honor in 2017.
Two Kona bartenders — Billy Gienger of Huggo’s and Michael Kelly of Royal Kona Resort — will also compete in Saturday’s event, as will Art Deakins of The Rum Shack in Waikoloa.