Jessica Light's infatuation with fake mustaches is something even she can't quite explain.

But the quirky obsession eventually turned into something more, culminating Saturday afternoon with an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for most people wearing fake mustaches at one time.

It took a good bit of time and effort--more than the Bailey's Pub & Grille bar manager thought--but she and a large group of friends and colleagues gave it their best shot.

Light, who has worked at the Central Park bar for three years, picked up a fake mustache earlier this summer on a whim and then started collecting them. She even has an ice tray that freezes mustache-shape cubes.

Then a co-worker suggested they try to set the Guinness record.

She researched the topic and sent in the paperwork to the Guinness people. It took about a month, but they finally responded with the go-ahead and details, noting in an email that a similar effort set the mark at 250 people.

That started the ball rolling.

In the week leading up to Saturday's attempt, she and co-workers got the word out, even going to the Elliot in the Morning radio show in Maryland Friday, where the host plugged the planned record attempt.

Then she and Bailey's workers had to follow official Guinness rules to document the effort, which required paperwork, photographers and two notaries public.

At about 11 a.m. Saturday, people started trickling in. For $10, Bailey's handed out a goody bag with a fake mustache, but some showed up with their own stash of faux 'staches.

Adam Conrady, who works with a former Bailey's bartender, arrived with his wife, daughter and two friends.

"We've got a lot of people," he said.

Light, wearing flip-flops and a florescent-yellow shirt promoting the Mustache Bash, was a little on edge.

"I'm super nervous," she said.

A little after 2 p.m., the fake mustache wearers headed to a designated area in the parking lot for the official census.

They managed to get 128, quite a bit shy of the record.

"I'm really disappointed," Light said afterward. "But I got to wear flip-flops all day."

And Bailey's did some good business for a Saturday afternoon.

"Maybe," she added, "we'll try to set a different record next year."

Scott Shenk: 540/374-5436
Email: sshenk@freelancestar.com