Hoquiam dominated Aberdeen 20-14 in the seventh annual Donnybrook on Thanksgiving Day.

It was Hoquiam’s first win since the friendly competition began in 2012.

“The two cities used to plan the entire day around the Turkey Day football game,” said event founder Brian Little, who credits “a handful of civic-minded and community-spirited organizers from both sides of Myrtle” for helping him continue that tradition through the Donnybrook.

So now, at high noon every Thanksgiving, the teams square off on opposite sides of Myrtle Street between Sumner and Simpson avenues. Each side brings buckets of water balloons; and for just 5 minutes, those balloons fly across Myrtle.

It’s not a matter of how many water balloons hit their marks; teams are scored based on how many people show up to compete. “The city with the most participants on their side of the line at the end of 5 minutes takes home bragging rights,” said event founder and organizer Brian Little, an Aberdeen resident.

“In 2012, nobody from Hoquiam showed,” he said. “A couple of gentlemen were walking down the alley heading toward Aberdeen and were enlisted to toss a few balloons. The score was 4-2.”

He said attendance has been increasing each year, with Hoquiam building its numbers. Aberdeen won the first five, but last year’s battle ended in a 13-13 tie. And this year, Hoquiam won.

But Team Aberdeen isn’t taking this lying down.

“I think we should let (Hoquiam) win every seven years — to keep them showing up, you know,” said Deb Carney Blecha.