Ugly Christmas sweater parties are all the rage this year. Over the past few weeks I have been invited to more than a half-dozen. What is it about these laughably gaudy sweaters that hold such a fascination for people? Is it the bright colors, the over-sized Santa face, the glowing nose of Rudolf? We may never know why we find them so charming, but what is inescapable is the proliferation of parties reveling in their tacky appeal.
Three of the Tacky Sweater parties taking place this weekend are being held at local breweries. Green Room Brewing Company at Jacksonville Beach and Bold City Brewing Company in Riverside as well as Mile Marker in St. Augustine are spreading Christmas cheer by hosting parties that benefit different charities.
Green Room’s Tacky Sweater Party is being hosted by the Girls Gone Green, a local advocacy group for healthy living headed by local television meteorologist Julie Watkins. The party will reward the tackiest sweater with a grand prize with other prizes going to attendees as well. Along with the prizes you can expect there to be vegan treats and plenty of good beer. The party starts at 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 13.
Over in the King Street Beer District, Bold City Brewing Company will be throwing an Ugly Sweater shindig of their own. This time the benefactor is the American Lung Association. The party is Saturday, December 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots and you will receive a free beer!
Finally, the folks down in St. Augustine at the Mile Marker Brewing Company are getting into the holiday spirit by hosting an Ugly Sweater Party as well. All who arrive at the brewery tap room in an obnoxious holiday sweater or shirt will be rewarded for their lack of taste with a free pint of beer.
