World Championship Dainty Contest

A German street game.
A cherished tradition.

On the last Monday in July, Schnitzelburg crowds onto the sidewalk of George Hauck Way to eat bologna sandwiches, listen to ragtime music, and watch contestants swing a whittled broom stick in hopes of being crowned a World Champion.

54th Annual World Championship Dainty Contest

Join us for the 54th Annual World Championship Dainty Contest and Dainty Fest from Thursday, July 25th through Monday, July 29st.

On Thursday, we're kicking off a weekend of Dainty Celebrations from 7-10pm with the first annual Dainty Silent Disco at Art Sanctuary which will be a fundraiser for our very own SACC and will help fund not just Dainty but several other annual neighborhood events! Entry is $25 and we will be debuting the “Pops’ Atomica Dirty Daintini” and bestowing the best dressed attendee with a SACC giftbag with their choice of favorite merch.

On Saturday, the 5th Annual Dainty FUNdraiser at The Merryweather will feature the infamous cake walk, live bands, drink specials, games, raffles, and more all starting at 4pm!

On Sunday, folks can enjoy a day full of family fun at Hauck’s Corner for Schnitzelburg Community Day! The day will start with a parade beginning at The Merryweather at 12pm and anyone who would like to participate are welcome to walk with us and usher the batting cage to it’s final destination at Haucks for the weekend. The day includes food, music, a dunk tank, face painting, the infamous dainty batting cage, the bologna sandwich eating contest, and our first pickle juice chugging contest!

For the main event, the festivities culminate on the last Monday in July when crowds will gather on George Hauck Way for the 54th year to see who will be crowned the 2024 Dainty Champion. Sign-ups are in person and begin at 4:30pm so if you’re over 45years and want to take a swing at the championship, don’t be late!

Monday's event will feature the classic Dainty Contest, food trucks (+ bologna sandwiches!), and a beer garden. SACC will be selling merchandise to help fund community projects throughout the year.

Again this year, all events except the Dainty Disco will include the Dainty Batting Cage. It’s your chance to try your hand at Dainty and see just how much skill (er, luck) is involved. Note: Anyone over the age of 45 will be restricted from participating in the batting cage on Monday.

This will be the biggest Dainty yet!

Visit the Official Dainty Website

The History of Dainty

The game requires a 5” stick (the dainty) and a 3’ stick (the bat), which can be cheaply made from an old broom stick with the bristles removed. The bat is tapered on one end and the dainty is tapered on both. The dainty is placed on the ground and the bat is used to tap the dainty with the goal of getting the dainty airborne. Once the dainty is in the air, the bat is swung, (hopefully) sending the dainty flying. The person to get the Dainty the furthest. Contestants only get three strikes (one strike = any contact between both sticks) and then they’re out.

The World Championship Dainty Contest was revived in 1971 by George Hauck and Charlie Vettiner and was played on the street outside of the Hauck Handy Store, a store that was opened in 1912 by George Hauck’s parents. Dainty is a game that originated from German immigrants in the early 1800s.

Along with some quirky rules, the game is also paired with a classic Dainty Meal: a piece of bologna between two slices of white bread, a bag of plain potato chips, and a dill pickle. Throw in a cheap beer for good measure.

The Schnitzelburg Area Community Council began assisting the Hauck’s organize the annual World Championship Dainty Contest as the event grew in popularity. Hundreds gather for this treasured community event every July, rain or shine.

The World Championship Dainty Contest celebrated its 50th year in 2020 in an unusual way thanks to Covid. The game was moved to Germantown Ballpark and attendees were limited to players who registered in advance online. Despite an abbreviated contest, we were still able to crown a Dainty Champion.