Over the years, the term “Florida Man” has become a popular phrase when joking about the people of Florida. This phenomenon is largely due to the public availability of Florida’s arrest records and news stories. The bizarre headlines and wild tales that come from these reports, combined with a colorful cast of characters and unique events, led to the regional hype surrounding Florida. People began noticing how many unusual stories seemed to involve someone from the state, and from that, the phrase “Florida Man” emerged as a humorous way to represent these strange incidents.
From this lighthearted concept, a Florida man himself created a competition to celebrate the state’s eccentric culture. Dubbed the “Florida Man Games,” Pete Melfi, owner and founder of local news outlet “The 904 Now,” established the games to support a local nonprofit, the Jimmy Jam Community Outreach. The organization provides financial support to struggling members of the St. Augustine community, assisting with utility and electric bills, minor car repairs, household emergencies and more.
Melfi said he came up with the idea by “reverse-engineering years of wild ‘Florida Man’ headlines to create the quirky events featured in the games.”
The one-of-a-kind event invites spectators to celebrate Florida’s unique charm and humor with various themed activities. Teams compete in challenges inspired by infamous “Florida Man” stories, including the “Evading Arrest Obstacle Course,” “Weaponized Pool Noodle Mud Duel” and “Hurricane Party Prep: Grocery Aisle Brawl.”
Tucker Cartwright (9) has seen clips of the Florida Man Games and thinks they are a fun way to bring attention to Florida.
“In my opinion, the Florida Man Games seem exciting and fun. The hurricane party prep game can bring more attention to what Floridians go through with hurricane preparedness in an enjoyable, exciting way. My favorite event is the one where they get into the giant human bubble balls, which looks like the most fun to compete in and watch,” Cartwright said.
Currently, the games are dominated by the team “Hanky Spanky,” which has secured back-to-back Florida Man Games wins. However, competition is fierce, and future games are sure to be just as unpredictable. This year’s event also welcomed the first-ever all-female team, making it a groundbreaking competition. The 2025 games took place on March 1 and brought an energetic and humorous atmosphere.
According to “Florida Today,” the event organizers have confirmed a TV deal for the Florida Man Games in the near future. While the exact format of the show has not been disclosed, Melfi said he has plenty of creative ideas he’s eager to explore.
Jayden Band (12) said he is excited about the upcoming TV show and looks forward to watching the games in full.
“I’ve seen some videos of the Florida Man Games, and it seems cool. I’m looking forward to the TV show because then I can watch the whole event and not just clips of it,” Band said.
