The Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition hosted its annual Drive Sober Kick Off at the 2026 Friday Fun Fest on Aug. 7, at Harrison Smith Park, in Upper Sandusky. The occasion marked the 4th annual Zero-proof Mix Off mocktail competition in which local businesses and organizations competed to create mocktail recipes in hopes of winning over the taste buds of Fun Fest attendees, who sampled the drinks and voted for a favorite. This year's competitors were the Upper Sandusky Elks Lodge #83, Fort Eighty Eight, and Stoked Bar and Mechanical.
The Mix Off is an annual celebration of the important role designated drivers have in keeping roadways safe.
"Every good gathering deserves a delicious beverage, and so do sober guests," Safe Communities Coordinator Callan McMillion said. "Before your end-of-summer gathering, encourage guests to make a plan to get home safely if they'll be drinking. Serving a great mocktail supports responsible decisions without sacrificing the fun for designated drivers."
Give the 2026 Zero-proof Mix Off Mocktails a try at your next gathering:
First Place: Upper Sandusky Elks Lodge #83
For the young and the young at heart, this mocktail offers hosts an opportunity to add a little whimsy to the gathering with a theatrical drink that is as much fun to serve as it is for your guests to drink. Fun Fest attendees of all ages enjoyed this refreshingly sweet drink with simple and affordable ingredients that are adjustable to any taste.
Shark Attack 🦈
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blue sports drink
- 1 cup lemon-lime soda
- Squirt of grenadine or red liquid water enhancer
- Shark gummy candies for garnish
Instructions:
Combine blue Gatorade and Sprite. When ready to serve add ice and shark gummy candies to a glass and fill with the blue drink mixture. Trigger the shark attack by topping with a dramatic squirt of red grenadine or a red liquid water enhancer to create a bloody effect.
Second Place (Tie): Fort Eighty Eight
Refreshing, light, and bubbly, Fort Eighty Eight's Peach Italian Soda is exactly what your end-of-summer guests deserve after braving a hot and humid Ohio summer. This elevated mocktail offers a much-needed refresh for party staples like pop and lemonade without sacrificing the sweetness that appeals to party guests young and old. Easily adjustable to any taste or occasion, this beverage can be made with fruity flavorings or transitioned into fall with flavored syrups offering autumnal and dessert flavors.
Peach Italian Soda 🍑
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Torani peach flavoring
- Club soda
- Reddi-Wip for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a large glass with ice. Add peach flavoring (Torani preferred). Top with club soda. Swirl Reddi-Wip to garnish and enjoy.
Second Place (Tie): Stoked Bar & Mechanical
Bringing their unique blend of competition and seriously good fun, though new to the Mix Off tent, Stoked Bar & Mechanical understood the assignment with their Watermelon Crawl mocktail. Combining fresh summer flavors with an effervescent finish, this mocktail feels like a drink you'd enjoy on a night out with friends at a cocktail bar, without the consequences of driving drunk. Elevated enough to appeal to adult palates but familiar enough to be enjoyed by younger guests too, this drink will be a hit for guests of all ages.
Watermelon Crawl 🍉
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Watermelon Juice
- 1 oz. Basil Simple Syrup
- Lemon-lime soda
Instructions:
Fill a glass with ice. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, and basil simple syrup. Top with Sprite.
