As we at C.I.G.A.R. reported earlier this year, the second Havana Cigar Fest & Beach Bash, held July 22.

They were so fired up that they created a contest to find the top ten reasons to smoke cigars, with the winning entries (and their authors) to be printed on the souvenir T-shirt of the event. After dozens of submissions, the winners (and some honorable mentions) were selected:

No. 10:
My kids need the boxes for school projects.
~ Tim Groza (Hiawassee, Georgia)

No. 9:
Teaches you about playing with fire!
~ Cindy Ward (Mahomet, Illinois)

No. 8:
Anyone can smoke cigarettes.
~ Mark Pierson (Lewistown, Illinois)

No. 7:
You don’t get crowded in a crowded bar.
~ Mark Crader (St. Peters, Missouri)

No. 6:
Better than lighting a $10 bill.
~ Cigar Butts Cigar Club of Naperville, Illinois

No. 5:
‘Cause it makes my wife crazy.
~ Joseph Gellman (Houston, Texas)

No. 4:
It helps you develop a nice ash.
~ Suzette Boulais (Peoria Illinois)

No. 3:
Because I love watching my money go up in smoke.
~ Gunnar Carlson (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

No. 2:
Cigars don’t have divorce attorneys.
~ Matt Hatch (Normal, Illinois)

No. 1:
With a libation, it’s a mini vacation!
~ Millard Woods (Mentor, Ohio)

Honorable mention went to an additional 11 entries:

• Everybody’s gotta have at least one vice, right?,

by Gunnar Carlson of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Our right to life, liberty, happiness and cigars,

by Dave Nielsen of Duluth, Georgia.

• The secret society without membership dues,

by Joseph Gellman of Houston, Texas.

• Chases away mosquitoes, cigarette smokers and other annoying pests,

by the Cigar Butts Cigar Club of Naperville, Illinois.

• Starts as a hobby and ends as an obsession,

by Matt Hatch of Normal, Illinois.

• Because nothing goes better with a Guinness,

by Scott Tobias of the Mid-Missouri Parrot Head Club.

• For the pure pleasure, enjoyment and to piss off those passing laws prohibiting it,

by Lance Besore of Phoenix, Arizona.

• What better excuse to have your head in the clouds?,

by Tom Stessl of Havana, Illinois.

• Can life be any better…cigars, beer and Buffett music,

by Robert Shouse of Macomb, Illinois.

• Could be Freudian? Who cares!,

by John [no last name submitted] of, Indianapolis, Indiana.

• Improves the quality of the air,

by Mark Crader of St. Peters, Missouri.

The Festival recognizes the heritage of Havana as a cigar-making city from the 1850s until about 1960. Naturally, there will be plenty of entertainment, food, drinks and cigars. See you in Havana . . . Illinois!