Florida Man Games seeks contestants for second year
Whether it’s riding a human-sized hamster wheel across the Atlantic Ocean or wielding a machete in a road rage incident, the notorious Florida Man always seems to be making headlines for another “truth is stranger than fiction” kind of story.
These kinds of headlines are what spurred St. Augustine native Pete Melfi, who owns the 904 Now, to create the Florida Man Games, which debuted this past February with sumo-styling wrestling, evading the police,
weaponized pool noodle mud duel and other events straight out of a Floridian fever dream. Following the success of the first Olympic-style games, which drew more than 5,000 spectators, Melfi and his team plan to bring back the games at a new venue on March 1, 2025.
“The turnout for the first Games was absolutely insane,” Melfi said in a news release. “We’re expecting an even bigger crowd at next year’s event, so it made sense to move out to the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, where we’ll have more space, a covered arena, and this year, we’re excited to introduce an RV tailgating area.”
Submissions are open through September for teams interested in participating. Aspiring competitors must submit a video showing all team members with bonus points awarded for creative, fun and memorable clips. Teams consist of three to five members, all 18 years or older, with at least one member 21 or older. Only Florida residents can apply. Twelve teams will be accepted, each representing a different city.
The second event promises new challenges and more “insane teams” on an expanded footprint. General admission tickets cost $25 each, while VIP tickets are $99 each. An RV trailer park pass for tailgating costs $550. For more information, visit thefloridamangames.com.
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