EatingOxford: Iron Bartender Contest Kicks Off Fringe Fest

The third annual Art-er Limits Fringe Festival will showcase 50 events in four days around the Oxford Square, according to Wayne Andrews, director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

Kicking off the event on Thursday, August 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. will be the Iron Bartender competition, an event held at The Powerhouse, sponsored by Cathead Vodka and New Regional Planning Oxford, that pits eight local bartenders against each other in an effort to win attendee votes for best cocktail.

“It’s like Iron Chef, but for bartenders,” said Andrews. “The bartenders are provided with basic mixers and a mystery case of spirits; then they have to use their skills to impress attendees and win votes.”

Other fun events happening during the four-day Art-er Limits Fringe Fest, which takes place from August 11 through August 14, include tours of historic sites around Oxford; a Blind Book Exchange at Shelter on Van Buren; a Secret Show; an Art Auction at The Powerhouse; Storytelling workshops; burlesque; contortionists; jugglers; belly dancers; comedy acts; juggling; Oxford Maker’s Market; music; craft demonstrations; home-brewed beer competition at Oxford Growler; Sip Until Seven at the Armory Pavilion and more.

Tickets to Fringe Festival headliner events such as the Iron Bartender competition and Secret Show are $10 each, or all-exclusive buttons, which get you into all 50 events, cost $45 (discounts given to Arts Council members). For more information and tickets, visit OxfordFringeFest.com or call 662-236-6429.

Liz Barrett Foster is the EatingOxford editor for HottyToddy.com, an award-winning business journalist and author of the recently published Pizza: A Slice of American History. Liz ran the popular restaurant information site EatingOxford.com from 2009 to 2015. Liz can be reached at liz.foster@hottytoddy.com.

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