Here’s what the world needs: More beard festivals and competitions. Also, I’d like to think that I’m pretty keen on emerging trends, and I can say without a doubt that beards usage is on the rise. No doubt 2012 promises to be a big year for the beard industry. so if you’re reading this at home, I’d be buying beard stocks right now.

Which is the perfect segway to the Battle of the Beards party that Whynatte is co-presenting this Saturday night (December 3rd) at the North Highland Ballroom. We’ll be there fueling the crowd with Whynatte shots (see: specials, drinks), and there will be food trucks and live music as well. Even better, The Battle Of The Beards will be donating a portion of the proceeds to a great organization called Mustaches for Kids, that sends money to CURE Childhood Cancer aka cancer fighting beards.

There will be a formal awards show, with prizes for the James Beard award for Best Beard, a Best Stache category, as well as a few others. It should get mildly weird, but weird in a good way. It’s definitely going to be fun.

So, check out the official Battle of the Beards website (click the link) and get your beard down to the North Highland Ballroom this Saturday.