Banjos 0, Gowanus Canal 1

The 8th Annual Brooklyn Folk Festival took place earlier this month. It featured concerts, workshops, and its crown jewel: The Banjo Toss Competition.

People of all musical abilities gathered at the edge of the Gowanus Canal and took turns throwing a banjo into the waters of the federally designated Superfund site. Whoever threw it the farthest wins bragging rights, and a shiny new banjo.

The competition is the brainchild of Eli Smith, co-founder and producer of the Festival. He's also a professional banjo player. He first staged the competition in 2011, but this year's banjo toss had a few unexpected twists.