Weird, Wacky and Wonderful: Florida’s Oddest Annual Events

By Lauren Tjaden
Published: October 6, 2009
Last Updated On: April 11, 2012

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Key West

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Who hasn’t had the yen to climb into a bathtub and paddle it into the gulf, carve a jack-o-lantern under the waves or toss a dead fish at a target? Check out the wackiest events in the Sunshine State.

The Sunshine State is the best for beaches, a sweet spot for sports and fun to fish. Here’s proof that it also deserves bragging rights for the oddest events ever. Prepare to get your weird-on!

Strange Spring Events

The Searle’s Buccaneers Living History Group provides a thrilling history lesson each March when they stage a re-enactment of The Sack of St. Augustine, Captain Robert Searle’s infamous raid of 1668. Check out authentic 17th century weapons and food, and shiver at the spectacle of attacking English pirates and fleeing Spanish townspeople at this free, family-friendly event.

Remember to embrace the oddity, smile at the strange, and make sure not to miss out on these wild, wonderful, uniquely Florida celebrations of the weird.

Who knew? Worm gruntin’ isn’t a joke at all, but an actual technique used to harvest worms. The Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin' Festival celebrates the odd art on the second Saturday in April each year. The festival features a gruntin’ demo, arts, crafts, food, live music, games, a gruntin’ Contest and, to top off the festivities, coronation of the Worm Grunter King and Queen.

The mullet, the only fish with a gizzard and said to possess mystical powers, is the headline attraction in Pensacola’s Interstate Mullet Toss contest. This beach event is held the last full weekend in April, and it involves throwing mullet from a 10-foot circle in Alabama across the state line into Florida – or visa-versa, depending on the wind. The fishy fun is fleshed out with a weekend-long party, activities, music, food and even “celebrity tossers.” Don’t worry. The fish are dead.

Silly Summer Events

The Orlando Magic’s mascot “Stuff” – a dragon, of course -- is one of the many crazy characters you can see in action at Orlando’s Celebrity Mascot Games. The July event features mascots from major league and college sports teams battling through gladiator-themed games during three exciting shows.

In the family-friendly Anything That Floats Race & Annual Bathtub Races, contestants climb into bathtubs and other mind-boggling vessels and paddle into the Gulf. The race is part of the Jamaican Festival, which features local artists, entertainment, sidewalk sales, clowns and face painting, and is held over the Labor Day weekend on Portofino Boardwalk at Pensacola Beach.

Held over the Labor Day Weekend, the Great Grove Bed Race features teams of five clattering down the village streets of Coconut Grove aside and atop decked-out beds, competing not only for speed but also for theme and décor. The festivities are geared towards both families and adults, with a Family Pajama Party for the former and a Pajama Pub Crawl for the latter, a Pit Row Parade, an abundance of music and a plethora of humor.

Odd Autumn Events

Can you imagine what the fish think about Key Largo’s Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest? In this crazy October contest, SCUBA divers use their dive knives to try to create the perfect jack-o-lanterns in under more than 30 feet of water.

Dress to thrill at Fantasy Fest. Key West’s 10-day, costume-filled festival in October features events such as the Vampire's Ball and Headdress Ball, a pet masquerade parade, a celebrity lookalike Contest, a toga party and, on the last Saturday night, the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, where you can mingle with 70,000 masked partygoers as the parade careens down Duval Street.

Wacky Winter Event

Satire, news, irreverence and creativity galore come together in December in a perfect storm for Coconut Grove’s King Mango Strut Parade at what has been dubbed the craziest parody parade in the universe.

Tri-Annual Odd Event

March into some muddy madness at Naples’ Swamp Buggy Races. The filthy fun includes racers tackling the Mile O' Mud track with its infamous Sippy Holes, as well as traditions such as the Swamp Buggy Queen's Annual Mudbath. Held every January, March and October, this event is a bit of Sunshine State history: The balloon-wheeled buggies originated in the 1930s and ‘40s as hunting vehicles used to navigate the gator- and snake-infested swamps of Collier County. 

Remember to embrace the oddity, smile at the strange, and make sure not to miss out on these wild, wonderful, uniquely Florida celebrations of the weird.