A beach party like none other takes place the last weekend of each April at the Flora-Bama bar, a legendary watering hole on the Florida-Alabama border.
It is the Interstate Mullet Toss and it’s a three-day event that is unique, wild and crazy as the Over-The-Line in San Diego and they heyday of the Manhattan Beach 6-man. The “excuse” for this party is to toss a mullet – a fish common to the area, not a bad hair style – across the Florida state line into Alabama (this is along the Gulf Coast in the Florida panhandle for those who may be geographically challenged about this part of the world).
It is put on by the Flora-Bama, which is not a reality show but a real bar, among the kind featured by Jimmy Buffett in his song “Bama Breeze.” The bar provides everything you need for the Mullet Toss, including the mullets, the bands, the beach in front of the bar, the prizes and the booze that has kept this event flowing since 1964.
There are sponsor tents, a bikini contest – they still do those in Florida, by the way – and bands playing in the bar until last call.
The cost is minimal – a $10 cover charge for the bar during the three days and $20 to toss a mullet, with that money going to a local charity. The tossing takes place from Noon-4 adults and then, as you can imagine, there’s a fun scene inside and around the bar. While it’s far from required, some people wear mullet wigs when doing their toss.
On the beach, spectators (in other words, people who go there just for the party) work on their suntans and 12-ounce curls and boats pull up to the beach in a scene that is pure Florida.
A few additional details, such as Mullet Toss rules, are available on the Flora-Bama website: FLORA-BAMA MULLET TOSS.
Mullett Toss Address: 17401 Perdido Key Dr., Perdido Key, FL.
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