{"id":168112,"date":"2026-02-25T06:16:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T06:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/168112\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T06:16:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T06:16:35","slug":"florida-man-games-crowns-champ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/168112\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Man Games crowns champ"},"content":{"rendered":"

BRADENTON \u2014 Just as Florida\u2019s theme parks make fictional stories come to life, the Florida Man Games<\/a> create competitions based on the stranger-than-fiction headlines generated by wild and wacky shenanigans in the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n

For year three, the event moved from St. Augustine to the Freedom Factory<\/a>, a Bradenton-area racetrack owned by YouTube content creator and stock-car racer Cleetus McFarland<\/a>. The contest included fan-favorites like the evading police obstacle course and hurricane supplies grocery aisle brawl, as well as new games involving cattle prods, bullwhips and fake deer urine.<\/p>\n

Twelve teams from across the state<\/a>, including ones from Orlando and Lake County, faced off on Saturday under the sweltering Florida sun.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is definitely the redneck Olympics,\u201d said Annie Polen, who has attended the event since the beginning to cheer on the Clearwater Red Eyed Gator Huggers. \u201cAs soon as the tickets were out, I bought them. I was so excited. This is my jam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pete Melfi, the event\u2019s founder, dreamt up the games in 2023 and has seen the competition take on a life of its own. He said around 5,000 people attended his year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis venue holds a lot more people. Our attendance is up since last year and it\u2019s been up every year,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty incredible, the growth of this thing. I am beyond happy and excited that Freedom Factory has fully embraced it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FloridaFlorida Man Games founder Pete Melfi and social media star Josh Wicks Robinson offer commentary during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

A full day of competition started in earnest with the \u201cnaked rampage.\u201d Clothed competitors with pool noodles between their legs attempted to knock over as many plastic flamingos as possible. Next, the \u201cbullwhips and bad decisions\u201d event had pairs of competitors in the octagon attempting to unholster beer cans from their opponent\u2019s belt with a whip.<\/p>\n

Team Hanky Spanky, the St. Augustine-based reigning champions from the 2024 and 2025 events<\/a>, placed highly in the first two events, making the team hopeful of a hat trick at this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s different stuff this year, but we adapt,\u201d said team member Larry Donnelly. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping for another win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LarryLarry Donnelly of team Hanky Spanky holds his previous champion belt during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Spectators watching from around the racetrack were clad in beer costumes, drinking helmets with straws, Burger King hats, pit viper-style sunglasses with plenty of American and Florida-centric attire.<\/p>\n

Under the high noon sun, two representatives from each team faced off in the \u201cdeer dong beer bong\u201d event. In this new offering, one teammate put water balloons filled with yellow liquid into a beer bong funnel at the top of a decoy deer\u2019s head, sending the fluids down below where another teammate was waiting with a cup in their mouth to catch the liquid.<\/p>\n

\"SpectatorsSpectators clad in America and Florida-centric gear watch the festivities during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

The Orlando team, which brought an energetic showing to the \u201cbeer bong\u201d event, was represented by a team of five anchored by professional wrestler Matt Riddle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more energy than actual skill. I think when you bring the energy and the family, good things happen,\u201d said team member Jordan Marshall<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, spectators enjoyed commentary by Florida-based social media star Josh Wicks Robinson (OmgItsWicks)<\/a> and \u201cSuper Troopers<\/a>\u201d actors Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan.<\/p>\n

\"TeamsTeams face off in a \u201ctaser tag\u201d event with cattle prods during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

While blindfolded \u201ctaser tag\u201d using cattle prods proved an interesting and shocking spectacle, the biggest events came toward the end of the day. Heading into the final two contests, the Freedom Factory\u2019s own team led by two points with Hanky Spanky in second place.<\/p>\n

The return of the grocery aisle brawl, which happened shortly after the mullet contest, brought out the most aggressive tendencies of each team with pairs of competitors filling their shopping carts and disrupting the other team.<\/p>\n

\"MulletMullet contest competitors line up during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

A matchup between the Tampa Trash Pandas and Hanky Spanky turned into a scrappy and heated wrestling match that left Hanky Spanky\u2019s Justin Carter fuming. Manatee County sheriff\u2019s deputies lingered in case the post-game dispute got physical.<\/p>\n

During another round, a third member of the Freedom Factory team entered the game area to tip the cart of the Lake County Zombies, prompting accusations of cheating from the crowd.<\/p>\n

\"TeamsTeams brawl over hurricane supplies in one event of the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

The final event of the day had the fastest member of each team attempting to navigate an obstacle course, then steal a catalytic converter from underneath a vehicle and outrun a member of the Manatee County Sheriff Office SWAT team.\u00a0While some competitors got away, others were tackle to the ground or tagged out.<\/p>\n

In the end, team Hanky Spanky ended up in second place while the Freedom Factory emerged victorious. While each team showed its brawn and determination, it was home turf advantage that helped grant the event\u2019s hosts a decisive victory after a hard-fought day of Florida Man-inspired contests.<\/p>\n

\"AA competitor runs from a member of the Manatee County Sheriff\u2019s Office SWAT team during the Florida Man Games at the Freedom Factory in Bradenton on Feb. 21, 2026. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Find me\u00a0@PConnPie on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or send me an email:\u00a0pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at\u00a0orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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