On November 20th, Jiggle Ball, Toronto’s annual Jello-Shot Cocktail Competition, returns. Featuring some of the city’s best bartenders, the event raises funds in support of Nellie’s Shelter, a resource for women and children in need of a safe place to stay.

After a banner first year, which raised $6700 for the shelter, this year’s event has grown to 26 competitors, including independent bartenders, representatives from some of the city’s top bars and restaurants as well as beer and spirits brands. Participants include Bar Isabel, Shameful Tiki Room, Rose & Sons, Mahjong, Patois, Drake 150, The Broadview Hotel, and many more.

With the intention of throwing a traditional cocktail competition with a very light-hearted twist, the Jiggle Ball is designed to inspire serious competition with tongue firmly in cheek.

Participants create unique and inventive jello-shots rather than high-octane cocktails. The event has a $10 door fee which includes two tickets for each attendee to try and vote on jello-shots created by some of the city’s best bartenders. Further tickets for jello-shots can be purchased for $3.

“We were thrilled with the turn out last year, and the enthusiasm that all the competitors brought to the table was so exciting,” said Christina Veira, founder of the event. “This year promises to be even bigger and better, with more competitors, international judges and another great lineup of DJ’s. We know it will be another great time, and hopefully we can top the amount we raise for Nellie’s this time as well.”

The title of “Jiggle Ball Jello-Shot Champion” will be decided by a judging panel made up of Jiggle Ball founder Christina Veira, Josh Lindley (bartender and co-founder of BartenderAtlas.com), Steva Casey (Birmingham, Alabama), Nick Korn (Boston, Massachusetts), and Tess-Anne Sawyer (bartender, Cocktail Bar/Mahjong Bar). The event is open to the public, whose opinion will decide which bartender will receive “People’s Choice Award” for most popular jello-shot.

The evening will begin with the cocktail competition at 8 pm. As the night progresses there will be music by four amazing Toronto DJs: Sophie Jones, JAYEMKAYEM, GIMMEMAR & EYEDOLOW. Beyond jello-shots, the bar will offer well-priced drinks, and there will be a door prize and 50/50 draw featuring lovely prizes to claim. Apt. 200, the venue for the event, was generously donated for the evening by the establishment.

All the proceeds from the door, bar and raffle will be donated to Nellie's Shelter. For the 2017 edition, the first $5000 is pledged to offset the holiday 'wishlists' of the pre-teens/youth in the community of the shelter (often former residents). These ‘wishlists’, which are usually quite basic like socks and long underwear, generally are most quickly filled for the shelters youngest children residents, so Jiggle Ball’s goal is to fill in the gaps.