Berlin Waiters’ Race

Berlin hosted an annual “Waiters’ Race,’’ where competitors showed off high speed skills in six categories, including fastest waitress, fastest porter, and fastest cocktail mixer. Here, a contestant carries a tray with a filled beer glass as he takes part in the waiters’ race on Aug. 4.

Waiters races began over a century ago, though the precise origin remains unclear, according to a site for the international waiters race community. France hosted some of the earliest races as means to exhibit the high quality of their professional waiters, and the tradition expanded. Now, races occur all over the world, where they serve as entertainment and tourist attractions. Take a look at more photos from the Berlin Waiters’ Race.

Contestants carried trays with filled beer glasses.

A contestant in the cocktail mixing event carried a shaker during the race.

Contestants in the waitress run event carried trays with glasses of latte macchiatos during the competition in Berlin.

The eventual winner of the waitress run event raced through the course with her tray.

Bellhops carried 22-pound suitcases as they competed in the Berlin waiters’ run on the Kurfuerstendamm on Aug. 4. Around 120 employees from the Berlin restaurant industry competed in the 2013 run.

Contestants in the porter event carried their suitcases on the course.

A contestant in the porter event stuck out his tongue as he competed.