Yellowknife (Jan 05/07) - Gentleman, start your follicles.

It's time again to start competing in the Caribou Carnival beard-growing contest.

Surly Bob's Sports Bar is the sponsor of the contest. Jim Taylor, an employee at the bar, is organizing the event.

Jim Taylor shows off 20 years of beard Monday at the Black Knight Pub. He will shave it off this week in order to sign up for the Caribou Festival beard-growing contest. - Peter Crnogorac/NNSL photo

"The whole idea is that it's winter, and we are recognizing the Northern culture of bushy beards," said Taylor. "We want to see who in Yellowknife has the bushiest, fanciest and longest beard."

Taylor first got involved in the contest in 2005.

"We had about 16 contestants," Taylor said. "The winner was a guy in the military whose girlfriend was a hairdresser," he explained. "She dyed his beard red, white and blue."

Taylor said that registration for the 2007 contest will begin at Surly Bob's on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

"All contestants have to be clean-shaven the day of registration," Taylor said. "You'll have a week after Monday to register, but whatever day you register on you must be shaven, so you might as well begin early."

Taylor said there will be prizes in different categories of beard growing.

"We have prizes in longest, bushiest and best overall beard," he said.

Taylor added that it costs nothing to enter the contest and all entrants will receive a free Surly Bob's shirt.

One other competition will take place within the beard-growing contest.

"Three real men from Surly Bob's are issuing a challenge to any three real men from the Black Knight Pub to see who can grow the best beards," said Taylor.

The beards will be on display and judged by yet-to-be announced local celebrities on March 22 at the Festival.

For more information on the contest contact Jim Taylor at Surly Bob's.