OKOBOJI— Each year, locals and tourists head to the frozen lakes to celebrate Winter Games, a unique weekend full of winter festivities. At this year’s 44th annual Winter Games, Parks Marina reached a milestone with the Battle of the Bartenders event, held Jan. 25. Raising $24,408 in one hour alone, the 10th Annual Battle of the Bartenders pushed the total raised for winners’ charities to over $100,000 since the event’s beginning.
“It’s the premier charity event of the weekend,” Debbie Parks, marketing director at Parks Marina, said. “Because of its growth, we decided to expand the number of winners this year to benefit the top five performing bartenders’ charities of choice.”
Attracting 27 bars and restaurants and thousands of attendees at Parks Marina, the Battle of the Bartenders pitted the area’s best mixologists in a head-to-head best drink competition.
Parks Marina was proud to present five checks to charities and causes selected by the winning teams— Outback Lounge in first place, Puff’s Lounge in second, Okoboji Barn in third, Drakes at the Lakes in fourth and Bracco Okoboji in fifth. The proceeds were split 40-30-15-10-5 to Joe Salmon, BV County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Bras for the Cause, Foundation for Exceptional Warriors and Special Youth Challenge (SYC), respectively.
A touching moment was shared as Joe Salmon, the recipient of the first place funds, waved to the attendees and participants after video-calling in to celebrate.
Salmon, a local teen who gained recognition for rescuing a man and dog who went through the Okoboji ice last winter, was shot in a hunting incident this past fall. Since then, Salmon has undergone multiple surgeries and is now in rehabilitation working toward returning home.
“A big thank you to many businesses and individuals that came out with large matching gifts to boost the pot! It’s everyone else that makes the event what it is, we are just proud to be a catalyst for it!”
Other Winter Games fundraising activities at Parks Marina and Okoboji Boat Works were nothing short of successful. Combined participation in the “Human Dog Sled Races”, men’s and women’s Keg Toss, the “Best in Snow” Dog Show and the “Smooshing Races” raised nearly $3,000 for various charities and organizations. Proceeds from these events were matched by Doll Distributing and Exit Realty.
“The charities that benefit are often those local folks in need that fall through the cracks, and it makes the event extra special,” Parks said.
