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‘Fat Bear Week’ 2020 Starts Monday: Here’s What To Know

Good news, fellow humans of 2020 – Fat Bear Week is almost here! If you answered with “what is Fat Bear Week” – prepare for a crash course in the feel-good event we all need after a feel-bad year.

Let’s cut straight to the chase. Firstly, 2020 has been horrible. A terrible, horrible, very bad no good year. Luckily, some of the cleverest humans in all of these United States have banded together to create a tradition that will surely save us all:

Fat. Bear. Week.

What is Fat Bear Week, you may find yourself asking again? For an entire week, a single-elimination tournament will be held by the fine folks at Katmai National Park in Alaska. The tournament is simple: enormous, ridiculously hefty brown bears will ravage the Brooks River in search of salmon. They will, in turn, absolutely gorge themselves on their favorite fishy delicacy – and become even more enormous to prepare for winter hibernation.

The best part? As these gigantimous grizzlies do so – we get to watch every. Single. Bit. That’s right – Fat bear Week consists of a live broadcast of the hunger-bear games in which we’re treated to seven glorious days of gluttony.

Once the bears are as fattened as a bear can possibly be – we, the citizens of America – and the world – get to vote on our favorite rotund king or queen of beardom.

So add the official Fat Bear Week website to your bookmarks now – make it an icon on your phone – do what you must. Once the competition begins on September 30th, you won’t want to miss a beat. Or bear, rather.

Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th is FAT BEAR WEEK 2020

The tournament ends October 6th, and once votes are tallied on the official website – the winner is crowned!

Not yet convinced of the magnificent happiness this tournament will bring to your life? Allow a few examples of past contestants in all their adorably massive glory to change your mind:

This absolute queen (seen in both images) is last year’s winner. She’s Katmai’s brown bear #435, but friends (and FBW fans) call her Holly. She is, without a doubt, the largest, roundest bear you’ll have ever laid eyes on.

But perhaps this gloriously adorable artwork by twitter user @illufinch sets the mood best:

So how do I vote for Fat Bear Week?

Easy! All you have to do is go to the official voting website on Explore.com. The voting page is up-to-date now with a test vote to see who is ready for this incredible week. Over 13,000 people have already cast their vote to say they’re ready by the time this article was written. With one click of a button come October 6th – you’ll be able to cast your vote for the winner, too. It really is that pleasantly fun and simple.

To make it even easier, we’ve compiled the sites to remember and bookmark:

Fat Bear Week Live Cam

Fat Bear Week Voting!

Whether you’re a bear enthusiast or not, the week promises to bring some much-needed levity to a tumultuous 2020. So get those fat bear loving eyeballs – and those voting fingers – ready – and don’t forget to tune in for #FatBearWeek starting this September 30th!

[H/T #FatBearWeek]