This Thursday, July 9, wait staff at Princeton restaurants and bars will show off their tray-balancing skills and compete for prizes in the 5th annual Princeton Waiters’ Race.
Hosted by the Princeton Merchants Association, the event kicks off at 4 p.m. at the Princeton Shopping Center on Harrison Street. Spectators are welcome to attend the event.
Waiters’ races have become popular in cities around the world, including Paris, Tokyo and London.
Waiters Races have existed for more than a century. Although photos and newspapers seem to suggest that waiters races were already organized in the early 20th century, the exact date and city of their origin remain uncertain. Photos have been discovered of a waiters’ race held in 1901 in London. It is believed that the tradition began in France. Pictures of waiters race in Paris as far back as 1918 and 1921 show garçons racing through Paris boulevards with thousands of spectators cheering them on.
The Princeton event is a celebration of the servers who take care of more than 60,000 guests each week in Princeton. Servers will race to complete a course while balancing two full glasses of water and two full BAI Beverage bottles on their trays.
Last year 17 restaurants participated in the event. The fastest racers who don’t spill their drinks will win cash prizes, an overnight stay at the Nassau Inn, champagne, a cooler, and gift cards.
All participants must register. The registration fee is $20. Six participants are allowed to register from each local restaurant. All participants will receive a t-shirt and goodie bag.
For further information, email PMA Board Members John Marshall of Main Street Bistro at president@princetonmerchants.org or Jack Morrison of the JM Group at jack@jmgroupprinceton.com.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.