OKOBOJI, Iowa (KCAU) — The 46th University of Okoboji Winter Games are here! And the festivities kicked off on Thursday night with the “Battle of the bartenders” at Parks Marina.

The frigid temperatures didn’t keep attendees from packing into Parks Marina for the 12th “Battle of the Bartenders” competition.

“Every year, we kick off winter games with the Battle of the Bartenders,” said Jared Ransom, marketing coordinator of Parks Marina. “Local bars create specialty drinks, and they have them out for sampling, and then people can taste them and tip each of the bars that they want to support.”

The total tips from all 23 bars competing are counted at the end of the night.

The top five bars get a portion of the tips, with the rest going to each of the top five bars’ charity of choice.

“It is a competition, yes, but it is also one that’s gonna benefit everyone at the end. At the end of the night, it’s one of the coolest things when we can announce the winners, even if you don’t win, it’s kind of a celebration to know we’re giving back to the community as big as we have,” said Ransom.

Puff’s Bar out of Storm Lake won the competition last year and is pouring for Stead’s Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City in this year’s event.

“My wife, her cousin, passed away from cancer here several years ago, and we’re doing it in his honor, his name, said Lance Bellinghausen, owner of Puff’s Bar.

Puff’s is an annual competitor in the Battle of the Bartenders, and it’s the support from everyone involved that keeps them coming back.

“Can you hear it? It’s just community, it’s Okoboji, Spirit Lake, and our Storm Lake community behind us. It’s awesome,” said Bellinghausen. “You just feel it. You just feel it in here.”

Coming into tonight’s competition, the Battle of the Bartenders has raised $120,000 for different charities in its first 11 years. 

And the results are now in for 2026’s Battle!

Puff’s Bar, out of Storm Lake, is a repeat champion! Puff’s collected this year’s title with a total amount raised from tips of just over $14,000.

Parks Marina matched that amount in honor of their late founder, Butch Parks, who passed away earlier in January at the age of 81.

So, the total amount raised for charity tonight was $28,606.

All the bars competing got $500 for the charity of their choice, while the top five bars got the rest of the money for their charities.