By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Pride - and likely some friendly wagers - will be at stake next month when two neighboring Jersey Shore towns battle in a long-distance tug-of-war from their respective sides of the Manasquan Inlet.

The first Manasquan Intercoastal Tug pitting the boroughs of Manasquan and Point Pleasant Beach on Oct. 20 will be contested with a 1,200-foot long rope that stretches across the inlet and will feature teams of at least 25 competitors.

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The series of tug-of-war heats will be held as part of a festival that runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on both sides of the water, according to event organizers. It features food and craft vendors, live music and games.

Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid said he jokingly proposed a wager with his Manasquan counterpart, Edward Donovan.

"He who loses shaves his head, " Reid said. "We both got a chuckle out of that."

Reid said Donovan didn't agree to those terms, adding the two are still in the early stages of agreeing on a possible wager.

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Are you ready for a series of Tug of War heats over the 400 foot Manasquan Inlet? A full day of family fun with food,... Posted by Manasquan Intercoastal Tug on Wednesday, September 5, 2018

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Organizers are also working out how many different competitions there will be, though Reid said expects there to be either five or seven.

In one, the football teams of Point Pleasant Beach and Manasquan high schools will square off against each other.

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Boaters who have plans that day are cautioned that the busy Manasquan Inlet will be closed from noon until 1:10 p.m. and again from 1:40 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. The nearly quarter-mile long rope is equipped with a device to allow for a quick disconnect in case of emergency.

Money raised from the event will benefit both towns' recreation departments.

Anyone interested in being a vendor or volunteering should email organizers here.

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Organizers hope the event will become a Jersey Shore tradition like a tug-of-war in Maryland between Annapolis and Eastport, which has been held for 20 years. Locals there call it "The Slaughter Across the Water." The Maryland version attracts a couple of thousand people a year.

The only other known tug-of-war competition across a body of water is by far the largest and longest standing - a 32-year battle between Port Byron, Illinois, and LeClaire, Iowa.

The towns on opposite sides of the Mississippi River use a 2,700 foot rope in a three-day carnival known as the Great River Tug Fest that draws upwards of 30,000 people each summer.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.