ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – After a five-month delay, the fish are finally going to fly at the Alabama-Florida border.
The Flora-Bama Bar announced Monday that the 35th annual Interstate Mullet Toss, postponed since April because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be held the weekend of Oct 23-25, AL.com reported.
In the main event, participants line up at a launching point in Florida and toss dead fish into Alabama, hoping to set a distance record.
Officials for the “Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party” said free masks will be available, but face coverings will not be mandatory, the television station reported.
“We are not mandating that anybody wear masks out there,” Flora-Bama co-owner Cameron Price told AL.com. “If you want to come here and wear a mask, you’re welcome to come here and wear a mask. Nobody’s going to look at you funny.”
Rescheduling the event comes less than a month after Hurricane Sally hit Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The Flora-Bama sustained significant damage but has reopened, WVTM reported.
Price said the business has followed all COVID-19 mandates, and that now is the time for patrons to have some fun.
“This whole year we’ve had nothing but people telling us what we’re not allowed to do,” Price said. “You can’t do this, you can’t do that. We’ve abided by all the guidance, what governing bodies have told us we’re allowed to do and not allowed to do. Recently we got to a point where we are authorized to be able to do this, and so we said, ‘Hey, let’s take advantage of that,’ let’s give all these people who have been told, ‘Hey, you can’t do this’ and ‘you can’t do that’ an opportunity to let loose and have a good time, come out and enjoy some outdoor fun, with social distancing at the right type of environment that’s not conducive to spreading COVID.”
The restaurant opened Sept. 22.
The event begins at 10 a.m. daily, with children throwing from 10 a.m. to noon and adults from noon to 4 p.m. If you want to throw a mullet, the cost is $15. For more details, visit www.florabama.com.
