Clayton Irish Festival crowns 2026 King of Beards on opening night
Dr. James P. Pelletier won the 2026 King of Beards and the Dedicated Donegal title at Clayton’s Irish Festival, with 15 participants judged on beard length, fullness, color, shine, texture and balance. Proceeds benefit Northern New York Community Foundation scholarships, and organizers aim to bring back past winners for a future King of Kings contest as the festival continues with food, music and other activities through Saturday.