This article was scraped from Rochester Subway. This is a blog about Rochester history and urbanism has not been published since 2017. The current owners are now publishing link spam which made me want to preserve this history.. The original article was published August 21, 2013 and can be found here.
![On Saturday, August 17th the Rochester Beardsmen Society hosted the Northeast Regional Beard and Moustache Championships at Water Street Music Hall. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-01.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
The following is a guest post submitted by Chris Clemens .
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On Saturday, August 17th the Rochester Beardsmen Society
hosted the Northeast Regional Beard and Moustache Championships at Water Street Music Hall
in downtown Rochester, NY. Competitors from the U.S. and Canada assembled to show off their facial hair and compete in 17 in different categories to determine who's facial follicles could produce the top ranking tufts...
![The first World Beard and Moustache Championship took place in 1990 in Germany. Since then there have been a number of like-faced competitions that have formed all over the world. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-02.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
The first World Beard and Moustache Championship
took place in 1990 in Germany and allowed a subculture of facial hair donning men to show off amongst one another. Since then there have been a number of like-faced competitions and clubs that have formed to celebrate all the different styles of facial hair.
![More recently, the sport has made its way into the common household thanks to a reality tv show called Whisker Wars, and the Mo-vember Campaign. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-06.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
More recently, the sport has made its way into the common household thanks to a reality tv show called Whisker Wars
, the Mo-vember Campaign
, a documentary called Growin' A Beard
, and the worldwide traipsing of World Championship Full Bearder Jack Passion
. (By the way, Mellitus
from the Austin Facial Hair Club, often featured in the show 'Whisker Wars' was here to compete in the Donegal event, but I didn't get to meet him.)
![The competition is intended to be friendly and as fun as possible, but the competition can be fierce. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-03.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
The competitions are intended to be friendly and as fun as possible, but it's no secret that some of the bigger personalities in the world beard competitions have clashed. In fact, there would probably be some people who would be very put off by my even mentioning Jack Passion, and more so for crediting him for helping to move the sport along.
![The sport and competition are growing way faster than the beards themselves, and the culture that goes along with it has found itself a large following. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-09.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
Nonetheless, the sport and competition are growing way faster than the beards themselves, and the culture that goes along with it has found itself a large following.
![This event in particular was held to raise funds for both the Villa of Hope and the family of Jack Schifano, a Rochester Beardsmen Member who recently passed away. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-04.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
At first glance it may seem like the regional competitions are just a reason to show off a visual representation of one's testosterone levels, drink beer and hang with like-minded tattooed friends-but ultimately the events are philanthropic. This event in particular was held to raise funds for both the Villa of Hope
and the family of Jack Schifano
, a Rochester Beardsmen Member who recently passed away.
![The competition served as an opportunity to come out on top, but it didn't seem to matter who won or lost, the sportsmanship was one of support, fun and camaraderie. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-08.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
The competition served as an opportunity to come out on top, but it didn't seem to matter who won or lost, the sportsmanship was one of support, fun and camaraderie. Though I could've competed in the 'Less Than 2 Inches' category, I chose to keep my beard in the audience and meet people who had traveled from all over to attend.
![Congrats to all of those who competed, and to the Rochester Beardsmen Society and Water Street Music Hall for hosting such a great event! [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-05.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
Congrats to all of those who competed, and to the Rochester Beardsmen Society and Water Street Music Hall for hosting such a great event!
![The competition included over 15 categories showing off everything from styled mustaches to chops to full blown freestyle beards and even fake beards. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-07.jpg?ref=senseofplace.dev)
See the final results of the competition at the Rochester Beardsmen Society website
* * *
Competition Categories
Mustache
- Fake mustache realistic
- Fake mustache creative
- Natural mustache
- Styled mustache
- Reverend Harrington's Mustache
Partial Beard
- Chops
- Donegal/Whaler
- Partial beard natural
- Partial beard freestyle
Full Beard
- Full beard natural 0-2''
- Full beard natural 2-8''
- Full beard natural 8-12''
- Full beard natural 12 - infinity and beyond
- Full beard natural with styled mustache
- Fake beard realistic
- Fake beard fantastical
- Freestyle full beard
* * *
Related Links:
Facebook page for the Rochester Beardsmen Society
Facebook page for the Boston Beard Club
* * *
About Chris Clemens:
Chris Clemens is a Rochester native with a degree from SUNY Brockport in Health Science. While spending nearly all his free time in research and exploration of curious landmarks, he is half of the blogging duo responsible for the Exploring The Burned Over District
blog. Checkout the blog on Facebook
!
