The voting for the "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year" is closed and now comes 'Stache Bash 2008 where the American Mustache Institute - surrounded by 1,000 of our closest friends - will name the winner. And at the same time, we shall consume volumes of fine ale, wine, and dress in odd costumes while listening to solid live music.

Details below: 

What is 'Stache Bash? - The most ridiculous celebration of mustaches in the world, benefiting Challenger Baseball, a baseball league for children and adults with disabilities. Is it some serious facial hair contest for shut-ins? No. It's a big, goofy party for a great cause, as this video might demonstrate.

When & Where? -- October 25 at 8 p.m., at the new Lumiere Casino in downtown St. Louis. The event itself will be in the new Lumiere Theater, the stairwell to which is next to the Burger Bar on the main casino floor. And if you find an, um, special friend at ‘Stache Bash, or simply consume too much Coca-Cola, the casino has two attached hotels.

Do I Need a Mustache? - No, but you'd look better in one.

Tickets - Buy tix in advance here. They are $22 online (includes shipping) and $25 at the door. This gets you great live music by The Takedown, Vijoy Rao & The Removers, and Hazard 2 Ya Booty (yes, they are that hot); an open bar with beer and wine (liquor costs),a $5 gaming coupon for the casino, an act of fire-eating performers, free concert tickets and other stuff from 105.7 The Point, and a good looking fake mustache (can any mustache look bad?).

Should I Buy Advance Tickets? - Yes! It's cheaper, and keep in mind that Mustached Americans are popular. We expect a sell-out (roughly 1,000). Plus, we have hired a troupe of homeless trolls to laugh at people who arrive after we reach capacity, and no one likes to be laughed at by trolls.  So you can purchase tickets below by clicking the "Buy Now" button, or if you can't make it and wish to donate to Challenger Baseball, click the "donate" button.

Is There A Theme? - Count on a "Hairy Halloween," as it's the Saturday before Halloween, so bring your costumes. Pants are your call. But dress like a member of the Village People, the Golden Girls, Magnum P.I., your favorite priest (Judas Priest), Frank Zappa, a mermaid, a merman, 1980s television mainstays Alf or Mr. T, or your ugly self - just have fun with it.

Who & What Will Be There? - About 1,000 people over the age of 21, great live bands, an open bar of beer and wine (liquor costs), fire-eating crazies, you'll get a $5 casino gaming coupon, 105.7 The Point will be giving out free concert tickets and other stuff, some ridiculous games, mustached or non-mustached Americans, a few Canadians and other non-Americans (with the exception of the Dutch - we don't trust the Dutch). 

Lumiere Is Big - Where Is It? - - The event will be in the new Lumiere Theater, just above the Burger Bar. When arriving, go to the Southeast corner of the casino and take the stairwell located next to the Burger Bar. If you enter from the Four Seasons, you'll need to go to the opposite side of the casino. If you enter through the walkway from Hotel Lumiere, the entrance to the theater is at the end of the walkway.

Can I Get a Beating? - The American Mustache Institute reserves the right to refuse admittance, or have you removed from the event, if you are stupid, ridiculously intoxicated, act like a knucklehead, or voice praise for Dave Navarro.

Prizes - This year attendees can win prizes for best real mustache, best costume, the "Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year" (vote here), and 105.7 The Point will be giving out free concert tickets and other stuff.

And if This Makes No Sense To Me? - Then e-mail us at  info@AmericanMustacheInstitute.org, call 877-STACHE-1, or call the Crab Lice Hotline.

What is AMI? - You can read about our full history here, but AMI is the only facial hair think tank and advocacy organization in the world which has fought against a long pattern of discrimination against the Mustached American community since its secret formation in the 1960s. In the 1990s, AMI went public and began putting on events known as ‘Stache Bash in St. Louis, home of the world's largest mustache - the Gateway Arch.

Disclaimer - AMI supports healthy, performance enhancing-free mustaches that contain no pesticides. Mustaches should be worn at the individual's own risk, and AMI is not responsible for mustaches that make men look like child molesters or Dave Navarro. Wearing a "Dictator" mustache may lead to repeated beatings. Mustaches should not be worn by women who hope to find employment outside of waste collection or who are looking for male companionship. If your mustache causes you to have an erection for more than four hours, seek immediate attention from a doctor, spouse, girlfriend, or Dave Navarro. In extremely rare cases, mustaches may cause significant decreases in sexual activity, friendships, and approval by society at large. Unibrows, commonly referred to as "forehead mustaches," are not recognized by AMI. AMI does not support chin coverage (i.e. beards, goatees) as they represent the "spousal compromise." The vast majority of mustache wearers have highly positive responses from friends, exotic dancers and grade school teachers. AMI strongly encourages consulting a physician before exploring your personal mustache capabilities, as premature mustache growth may lead to feelings of despair and depression. AMI cautions against trusting clean-shaven officers of the law. If a mustache-free constable attempts to stop your vehicle, dial 911 and proceed to the nearest police station, where a squadron of heavily mustached officers will greet you with open arms. Please consider the environment before shaving your mustache, and when considering your presidential choices in 2008, remember that Bob Barr is the first mustached American presidential candidate since Thomas E. Dewey in 1948.