Kilt Contest Gives Crowd a Welcome Eyeful

Vying for a chance to wear proverbial blue ribbon on the outside of their kilts, 27 men strutted their stuff in the streets of Bethlehem on St. Patrick's Day Saturday to the delight of a crowd of mostly female onlookers.

The “Best Legs in a Kilt Contest”, a bawdy Bethlehem tradition, did not fail to disappoint, as men shamelessly sashayed and danced, along with showing off as much skin as they dared in their quest for the title.

Gigs, cartwheels, splits, along with some kisses and flirting were all part of the show as the men attempted to outdo each other and woo the panel of judges—four women who obviously enjoyed their task immensely.

As a particularly attractive contestant draped a bare leg over the judging table, one was heard to ask, “Can I touch him too?”

She was rewarded gallantly, as the man bent to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Competition was stiff as the kilted men—the youngest just seven months old and assisted by his mother—attempted to show off their assets and talents to the best advantage.

The bare-legged contestants' efforts were backed by music, provided by the also-kilted Bethlehem Bagpipe Band.

Running all the contestants through their paces twice in front of the whooping and whistling crowd before choosing semi-finalists from which to pick the winner, judges more than once asked for yet another look, which the men were more than happy to provide.

In the end, it was Terry Sutton Jr., of Nazareth, who took home the top prize—major local bragging rights for the year, along with a new kilt from , who sponsored the event.

Howie Cooper of East Texas and John Futchko III of Bethlehem took the second and third places, respectively.

Honorable mentions went to Aren Patryck Warner, 7 months and just learning to walk, along with Jeromy Williams and his 5-year-old son Liam, all of Bethlehem.

But while the plaid-clad, bare legged men were awarded the prizes, it could also be said the ladies, particularly those judges with the best and closest view, were the real winners, as one quipped of Sutton while posing together for a victory photo, “We picked him, so now we get to take him home!”