7th Annual Holiday Mocktail Party
Non-alcoholic cocktails, holiday décor, and messages about not drinking and driving can mean only one thing: Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital’s annual Mocktail Party. The party is held annually to kick off Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month (3D Month). For the third year in a row, the party was held at the elegant IX Center ballroom in Cleveland.
This year’s event featured nineteen different mocktails. The judges for best mocktail included Judge Deborah Nicastro, Garfield Heights Municipal Court; local news reporter Harry Boomer; and children's book author, Gary Consilio. The winner for Best Mocktail was Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department's ‘The Metropolitian.’
The displays created by the agencies preparing for the mocktail were as impressive as the drinks themselves. Cleveland Metroparks had an elaborate display of wildlife and served drinks in martini glasses. The Home Depot Strongsville went with a home improvement theme and mixed their drink, "Better than Blue," with a drill in a 5 gallon bucket. The Lake County Task Force on Crime Prevention went with a Mexican theme for their drink, "Santa Sangria."
The event is also the coalition's biggest fundraiser of the year, with auctions that raise money to fund the coalition's non-profit programs. This year, there were 20 different baskets and items to win in the Chinese auction, and 54 items to bid on in the silent auction. The auctions raised $10,490, all of which goes directly back into programs & services.
The annual Holiday Mocktail Party provides fun for the whole family. Members of the Rainbow Injury Prevention Center’s Street Team staffed a crafts table, where kids had their picture taken and made their own holiday picture frames. The evening was capped off with a “surprise” visit from Santa.
Mocktail Mixer Results:
Best Mocktail:
1. Cleveland Metroparks Rangers Dept - "The Metropolitain"
2. Lake County Task Force on Crime Prevention - "Santa Sangria"
3. Pepper Pike Police Dept. - "Pepper Pike Purple Pleasure"
Best Name:
- Brooklyn Heights - "'No Crash' Creme Splash "
Best Display
- Tie between Cleveland Metroparks & Lake County TF
Crowd Pleaser
- WIC Cuyahoga "WIC'ed Brew"
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