Mullet tossing contest, pub crawl tournament planned for Fort Myers Beach
Weekend of raffles, giveaways and drink specials part of festivities
Dawn Miller already has two rebuilding projects going on Fort Myers Beach as co-owner of The Whale and Sandy Bottom’s Bar & Grill, now she is organizing a townwide effort to boost summer businesses with “Mullet Madness Weekend” which will feature a mullet-tossing contest.
The contest and pub crawl tournament will take place for adults on Saturday, Aug. 2 with a children’s mullet-throwing contest on Sunday, Aug. 3.
A kickoff party will take place Friday, Aug. 1 at Margaritaville Beach Resort from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The idea for the mullet-throwing contest was built on the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss in in Perdido Key where contests make mullet throws over the Alabama border.
Miller said the concept came about during a brainstorming session by the newly-created business association “What’s Up FMB?”
“We built a business alliance here on the island,” Miller said. “All the businesses are getting together to get off-season business back on the island.”
More than a dozen businesses are expected to take part with mullet-throwing stations. Other local business are sponsoring the contest, including raffle prizes and giveaways.
Awards for the most points will be given out to adults Saturday night along with prizes for a Joe Dirt lookalike contest. The awards for the children’s contest will follow Sunday’s tournament.
For $20, participants will be able to enter the mullet-throwing contest at each of the participating business. Participants will receive a commemorative Mullet Madness tank top and a trail card to track their progress across participating venues.
Among the local businesses expected to participate are the Alex King Group, Buffalo Grill, DiamondHead Beach Resort, Goodz, La Ola, Lee Ann’s Paradise Vacation Rentals, Margaritaville Beach Resort, Moss Marina, Mr. Wave’s Island Bar, Smokin’ Oyster Brewery, Sun n’ Fun, Tunaskin and Wahoo Willie’s.
For just $20, participants receive a commemorative Mullet Madness tank top and a trail card to track their progress across participating venues. Completed trail cards earn raffle tickets, with major prizes awarded on Sunday at Moss Marina. Credential pickup begins Friday at 9:00 AM at Current Riders and Sun n Fun.
Each location hosting a mullet throwing contest will allow each participant three throws each.
Completed trail cards earn raffle tickets. Awards will be handed out Saturday at 4 p.m. at the DiamondHead Beach Resort for adults, while the raffle will take place Sunday at Moss Marina at 1 p.m. along with the awards for children.
Awards and prizes for adults who participate in the mullet contest will be announced Saturday night following the end of the tournament at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, with the winners of the raffles and prizes for the children’s contest announced Sunday at Moss Marina.
Participating restaurants and businesses throughout the island will be holding specials beginning Friday through Sunday for the event.
The kickoff party for Mullet Madness Weekends begins Friday from 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. at the Margaritaville Beach Resort. There will be live music, dancing and drink specials.
The games begin Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the mullet toss crawl. Each contestant will get three mullet throws.
Mullets, are large fish found in Florida which can reach 20 inches or more in size. They are known for their fins and rays. Each participating restaurant will have frozen mullet on site to be thrown.
Miller’s husband Mike said he expects the top throws to be between 15 to 20 feet.
There will also be a Joe Dirt lookalike contest with judging at Mr. Waves, Diva’s & Dolls, Lani Kai, and Tunaskin to see who resembles the movie character and his infamous mullet.
The children’s tournament will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a mullet toss and Joe Dirt lookalike contest.
Sunday’s awards will be given out at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Moss Marina with a raffle drawing. Prizes including gift cards, events merchandise and giveaways for unique island experiences.
Miller said the prizes include $275 in boat swag, gift cards to Fort Myers Beach businesses such as The Whale, Sandy Bottom’s Bar & Grill, Mr. Wave’s Island Bar, Snug Harbor, Wahoo Willie’s, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, the Blue Parrot Gift Shop at the Lani Kai Island Resort and ice cream at Goodz. There will be golf cart rentals and tiki cruises given away.
“This is just the start,” Miller said of local business support for the Mullet Fest. “There is a lot more coming,” she said. Miller said she is still receiving gift cards and giveaways for the event.
Throughout the weekend, there will be photo-ops for themed selfie stations.
Live music, themed drinks, and drink specials are expected at participating restaurants.
“We’re all just eager to get the island going again. We’re trying to get some more people out” Miller said. “I think it will be a fun weekend.”
Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday, August 1
· 9:00 a.m. – credential pickup opens at Current Riders Surf Shop at 19050 San Carlos Boulevard and Sun n Fun at 1821 Estero Boulevard.
· island-wide welcome specials and promotions
· 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. – kickoff party at Margaritaville with live music
Saturday, August 2
· 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m. – island-Wide mullet toss contest and pub crawl
· Adult Joe Dirt Look-Alike Contest with judging at Mr. Waves, Diva’s & Dolls, Lani Kai, and Tunaskin
4:00 p.m. – Finals & Awards at Cabana’s at the DiamondHead Beach Resort.
Sunday, August 3
· 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Kids Mullet Toss & Look-Alike Contest
1:00 p.m. – Mullet Madness Kids Awards & Raffle Drawing at Moss Marina
Kids Add-On
· $5 per child (includes Mullet Madness drawstring backpack filled with island goodies)
For more information, contact: Dawn Miller at (614) 578-2588 or by email at dawnmiller@thewhalefmb.com.