Under a 10-foot wide mistletoe display in Washington DC, 1,435 couples locked lips simultaneously in a heartwarming community event, working together to break the world record on Saturday, Guinness World Records report.
The record was previously set in St Louis, Missouri in 2019 when 480 couples kissed under the festive sprigs.
The event, organized by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID), was the second year of the National Mistletoe exhibit at Anthem Row.
In the event registration on their website, Downtown DC BID offered people the opportunity “to make kiss-story,” telling people to “bring [their] boo, pucker up, and join hundreds of lovebirds locking lips beneath the city’s latest holiday attraction.”
The exhibition is a large-scale holiday art installation designed by artist My Ly. It is a 10-foot-wide mistletoe sculpture that hangs in the air at Anthem Row, creating a festive backdrop for community events during the holiday season.
Creating community and festivity
Gerren Price, President and CEO of Downtown DC BID said in a statement after the record breaking event that it was intended to create joy, connection, and highlight Downtown DC as a destination for celebration.
The record-breaking kiss took place at 5 p.m., after a day of live music, food, and photo booths. The couples simultaneously kissed for five seconds underneath the National Mistletoe.
Guinness World Records’ representatives were at the event to verify the achievement.
Price commented on the Downtown DC BID that “breaking a Guinness World Record title is an incredible moment for DowntownDC, but what’s even more meaningful is seeing our community gather and celebrate in the heart of the district.”
The event was a heartwarming moment of community and unity. It brought together a diverse range of people from across DC, uniting them through festive spirit.
“Events like this bring people together in such a memorable, joyful way and show the true vibrancy and energy in the city that we love,” said Price.
“Whether you’re sealing the deal, rekindling the spark, or just joining for the fun - this is the holiday kiss you won’t forget.”