LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There was no shortness of excitement on Monday as Louisville’s Schnitzelburg neighborhood celebrated the 52nd World’s Championship Dainty Contest. 

Hundreds of people gathered outside the newly debuted Hauck’s Corner to watch competitors try their luck at hitting the dainty the farthest. 

The eclectic game was brought to Louisville in the 1800s by German immigrants and revived by the late George Hauck in 1971. Recently, the competition has grown into a three-day event. 

A large crowd stands behind where competitors attempt to hit the dainty the farthest (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

For longtime players like Dan Kauffmann, who’s played at least 15 times, there is a strategy to how they’ll play.

“I’m going to hit it real soft than give it a good smack,” Kauffmann said.

Kauffmann adds this year he is competing alongside some of his brothers and believes he’s got the best shot at a hit.  

“Well I try to get down here every year and they did a really good job this year of keeping it going, so I was really happy to see that. After George passed away, everybody was concerned they wouldn’t keep doing it, but they are really doing a good job,” Kauffmann said.

Experienced players can tell you that a good hit is harder than you might think. But every once in a while, someone makes it big, like returning champion Bill Ridge.

On his last swing, the 1999 champ hit the dainty 112 feet, the longest by far of the dignitary group of competitors. 

“This is the furthest I have ever hit it. When I won in 1999, I think it was 62 feet,” Ridge said.

For more than half a century, the last Monday in July has been blessed with the Dainty competition. Something the neighborhood looks forward to each summer. It’s truly an experience you can only get in Louisville.