Garrettsville – The Great Gathering of the Beards Beard Battle will be coming to Garrettsville’s Summerfest during the first weekend in August. Not surprisingly, the Barber of G’Ville sponsors this unusual event with the assistance of the Bearded Sinners Beard Club.
The competition will take place at Summerfest — on Saturday, August 7th from 10 am until 2 pm on the festival’s west stage, and is open to those with full facial hair as well as those whose faces are follically challenged. Competition categories include natural beards of various lengths, as well as groups for partial beards, so those with goatees, mustaches, and other facial hair can enter. The Kenny Powers category is open to those sporting a mullet and some form of facial hair, as well as creative categories for ladies — Wiskerina, and kids. The $20 entry fee benefits the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard and the Garrettsville Farmers Market.
Brian Morgan, the new Barber of G’Ville, decided at the age of 42 to switch careers and head to Barber School. When Jim Reppy, the previous owner, retired, Morgan was the logical choice to continue the shop’s local tradition. Much like a bartender or priest, barbers tend to provide a safe place for people to unload their burdens, and Brian enjoys offering patrons a sympathetic ear. The creativity of barbering also appealed to Morgan. And since Brian and his wife Kelly DeLong’s son Hayden has special needs, the family appreciates the flexibility of Morgan’s new career, as well.
The couple noted that the community assisted when they lost their furniture in an apartment fire and even gifted them a van to enable them to transport their son. When he took over the shop in 2020, Morgan wanted to give back to the community that has done so much to help them. DeLong explained, “Brian always wants to give back. And the community helped us so much, we want to pay it forward.”
Morgan shared, “I want my chair to be a safe space for people.” Mission accomplished, according to Bearded Sinner Mike Bartlam, who serves as the group’s Sergeant at Arms. “I can’t count how many times I’ve sat in his chair and unloaded my stress.” When Morgan had the idea of hosting a beard competition, he reached out to his friends from the local charitable organization to lend a hand. Kenny Parbel, Bearded Sinner President, was happy to help support Morgan’s efforts. “As a club,” he noted, “everything we raise goes to charity. Our motto is to be kind — because everyone deserves a chance.”
Morgan noted that during lockdown, the Garrettsville-Nelson Food Cupboard provided thousands of meals, as neighbors were out of work and kids were home from school. DeLong added, “We can’t stand to hear that someone is hungry when we can do something to help it.” The Food Pantry collaborates with the Garrettsville Farmers Market; both organizations will receive proceeds from the beard competition.
The Bearded Sinners men’s club was founded in 2012. Parbel noted, “We worked together, all had beards, and began attending beard competitions in the Cleveland area.” He noted that most folks see them as a stereotype — beards, tattoos, and drinking. They’re often surprised to learn how well these working-class guys support their friends, neighbors, and community. This local group now has chapters across the country.
For those unfamiliar with beard competitions, Parbel explained, “I imagine it’s almost like a beauty competition, though I’ve never been to one,” he joked. Five judges will use a 10-point scale to grade contestants’ facial hair. Morgan notes that, “charisma helps.” In the Wiskerina group, Parbel recalled seeing a “Bearded Barbie” at a competition, where the perfectly-coiffed contestant, complete with Barbie outfit, makeup, and sporting facial hair, seemingly stepped off the shelf in a life-size package.
Advanced registration (which is recommended) for the Beard Battle is now open online (form also available on Page 6); participants may also register the day of competition at the Bearded Sinner booth located in front of the Weekly Villager office. The top three winners will be selected in each category, and the most memorable entrant may be crowned as best in show. Parbel noted, “we’re just a group of guys wanting to help the community. Whether bearded or not, he encouraged people to “come, hang out, and meet some cool people,” at this first-ever event at Summerfest.
Speaking of beards, Morgan’s beard is the newest of the group, having been growing for three or four years. Pabel started growing a beard nearly 10 years ago to protect his face while working in a cold storage warehouse; Bartlam has been bearded since 2014. Each agree they all “look weird without a beard.” Kenny laughed that his wife jokes, “NBC Dateline would nab you if you ever shaved your beard.” But whether you’re a long-time beard grower or just sporting one that day, you’re welcome to participate at Summerfest to support two worthy causes.
Register online or find out more at garrettsvillesummerfest.com, at the Barber of G’Ville or the Bearded Sinners Beard Club of Ohio on Facebook, or at the Bearded Sinner table the day of the competition.
