RON SWARNER: SWEATERS SO BAD THEY'RE GOOD >>>

Three years ago Doyle’s Public House co-owner Russ Heaton laughed when his Minnesota friend recommended he host an ugly holiday sweater party. After Heaton rolled his eyes for the fifth time, he Googled it. Search results suggested it wasn’t a crazy idea.

Six people dressed for his 2006 Bad Holiday Sweater Party â€" including Heaton and his now wife, Jennifer.

Last year, the number tripled.

Both years the Stadium District bar packed them in due to Tacoma’s desire to tie one on the night before Thanksgiving. However, the few people dressed in red and green with dangling knit ornaments stuck out like sore thumbs, forced to explain they weren’t retarded.

Tonight, hoping three times a charm, Doyle’s opened its doors for folks donning snowmen, Santas and bells in appliqué, yarn and sequins. Thirty minutes into its 8:35 p.m. launch, I counted 60 ugly holiday sweaters â€" not an easy chore in a packed house.

Even with safety in numbers, I still felt a little “special” in my hideous holiday sweater vest. Grabbing cash inside Stadium Thriftway on the way to the party was a poor decision, too.

LINK: More ugly sweater photos from Dolyle’s