Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island held a bubble blowing contest in observance of the obscure holiday Bubble Gum Day, at the Liberty Northwest Center, Feb. 1.

Nine Sailors competed to see who could blow the largest bubble, the fastest bubble and the most bubbles in one minute.  The gum was purchased by Liberty Northwest and given to volunteers looking to blow the competition away.

Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) Airman Logan Halliday, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, won the most-bubbles-in-a-minute competition. For his efforts, he was awarded a tub of 380 pieces of bubble gum.

The fastest bubble competition started when participants put their gum in to their mouths. Each person was allowed a minimum of two pieces and six pieces at the max. Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class (AW) Ian Price of Fleet Readiness Center, Northwest, came up with the first bubble and attributed it to not putting as many pieces into his mouth as he could.

“I only got two pieces so I didn’t have as much gum to chew through as the rest of the competitors,” said Price.

Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Chris Pressentin, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 2, who won the largest bubble competition, took second place in the most bubbles competition with 14 bubbles. He received a coffee mug.

Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman John Allen, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, placed third with nine bubbles and received a water bottle.

“My friends and I used to have bubble blowing competitions all the time,” said Allen. “It was the cool thing to do back in the day. I just put as much gum in my mouth as I can and chew away. I do it all the time and usually keep some behind my ear, but I can’t do it in uniform.”

Bubble gum, as we know it today, was invented by Walter Deimer in 1928 when he accidentally came up with a recipe that was less sticky and more flexible than chewing gum that was produced at the time.

Liberty Northwest Center anticipates recognizing more abnormal observances and holidays to support the Sailors morale with events they don’t normally know about and get to enjoy. A “Twinkie” eating contest is anticipated for National Twinkie Day, April 6.

“We decided to put some of the national fun holidays in our calendar, like last month when we did the moon pie eating contest for the first full moon of the year,” said Stephanie Oppor, liberty program assistant. “We went online and searched for national holidays and got a whole calendar of them. It lets Sailors be a kid like they really are at heart and add a little fun to their day.”