On Thursday, July 14, local wait staff will put their tray-balancing skills to the test at the 6th Annual Waiters’ Race, an event exclusively held by the Princeton Merchants Association. The event kicks off at 4 p.m. at Palmer Square, by the Green. (There is no rain date for this event.)

This event is a celebration of the servers and staff who take care of over 60,000 guests a week throughout Princeton. Waiters and waitresses from Princeton area restaurants will race while balancing two full glasses of water and a full BAI Beverage bottle on their trays. The winners will take home cash, prizes and bragging rights for the next year.

Last year there were 15 participating restaurants and many are expected to be back in 2016. They included: Agricola, Alchemist & Barrister, Blue Point Grill, Cross Culture, Eno Terra, Ivy Inn, Jammin’ Crepes, Main Street Bistro, McCaffrey’s, Mediterra, Princeton Soup & Sandwich, Teresa Caffe, Tiger Noodles, Witherspoon Grill and the Yankee Doodle Tap Room. Triumph Brewery and Chez Alice have also confirmed that they are returning this year to race.

The fastest racers (for the men and women) – who don’t spill their teetering cargo – will take home the following:

1st Place: $350 cash, weekend overnight stay at the Nassau Inn, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.

2nd Place: $200 cash, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.

3rd Place: $100 cash, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.

“Each year our field of competitors grows as does the popularity and attendance of this event,” John Marshall, president of the Princeton Merchants Association, said. The race course alternates between the Princeton Shopping Center and Palmer Square.

“We return to Palmer Square in 2016 where competitors will once again feel the pain of Heartbreak Hill; leg three of the Square course through which only the best go on to finish,” Marshall said. “We also will find out if two-time men’s champion, Yankee Doodle Tap Room’s own John Ryan, can reclaim the men’s crown. The PMA Waiters’ Race has definitely become a summer must-attend event in Princeton.”

The awarded prizes are donated by local merchants. Top sponsors this year include: BAI Beverage, Joycards, MacLean Agency, McCaffrey’s, Nassau Inn, Palmer Square Management, Terra Momo Restaurant Group (Mediterra, Teresa Caffe & Eno Terra) and JM Group (Witherspoon Grill, Blue Point Grill, Nassau Street Seafood and Princeton Farmers’ Market). Other Sponsors include: Agricola, Alchemist & Barrister, Arts Council of Princeton, The Bent Spoon, Chez Alice, D’ Angelo Italian Market, Hamilton Jewelers, Ivy Inn, Jammin’ Crepes, La Jolie Salon & Spa, Lindt, Main Street Bistro and Café, Monday Morning Flowers, Olives, PNC Bank, Princeton Printers, The Orvis Company, Road ID, Princeton University Store, Small World Coffee, Smith’s Ace Hardware, Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar, Triumph Brewing Company & Whole Earth Center.

Those interested in participating need to pre-register. The fee is $20. Six participants are allowed to register from each local restaurant. All participants will receive an official race day t-shirt and goodie bag.

For further information about the Waiters’ Race, please contact PMA President John Marshall, Main Street Bistro, president@princetonmerchants.org or Laura Estey, Assistant General Manager, Witherspoon Grill, waitersraceprincetonnj@gmail.com.