Franco's Flop Fest returns to Baldwin Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, with a temporary pool set up along New Broad Street for a costumed belly-flopping competition. The free-to-watch event will take place in front of Tactical Brewing at 4882 New Broad St., with food trucks, beer and the contest scheduled for the afternoon.
The festival has grown from about 500 spectators in its first year to more than 2,000, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Franco Furtero, owner of Cholo Dogs, hosts the event with Florida Citrus Sports and has promoted it as a world championship-style competition.
Costumes, Cannonballs and a Pool in the Road
The event's distinctive feature is the temporary pool built along New Broad Street. Past contestants have appeared in beaver suits, sumo gear, wrestling cosplay, scuba equipment and hot dog costumes, and organizers are promising more unusual outfits and performances this year.
Judges score competitors on creativity, sound, splash, impact and showmanship, according to the Sentinel. Bungalower reports that theatrics and overall commitment have also figured into past judging. More than a dozen contestants competed in 2024 while thousands watched, according to My News 13; a competitor known as “Handsome Dan” won, and Orlando City defender Kyle Smith was among that year's judges.
How Flop Fest Fits Florida's Pool-Safety Rules
The Florida Department of Health says public pools are subject to sanitation and safety standards enforced through operating permits and inspections by county Environmental Public Health sections, according to the Florida Department of Health. The state guidance identifies the oversight framework but does not specify event-specific arrangements for Franco's Flop Fest in the supplied information. Other novelty belly-flop events documented in the supplied listings include a June 13, 2026, competition at Little Woodrow's in Webster, Texas, with registration at 4 p.m. and kickoff at 6 p.m., and a May 17, 2025, contest at Woodwright Brewing Co. in Dunedin that ran from 2 to 5 p.m. The listings identify their venues and schedules but do not provide entry fees or judging formats in the supplied details.
Registration Deadlines and Ticket Details
Spectator admission is free, but competitors pay $35 to enter, according to the Sentinel. Registration is available online in advance or in person on event day, but it must be completed, paid and accompanied by a signed waiver by 1 p.m. Bungalower and gottagoorlando report that last-minute sign-ups remain available, with the latter outlet saying organizers expect up to 20 contestants this year.
The festival is scheduled to begin at noon on New Broad Street, with the belly flop contest set for 1:45 p.m., per the Sentinel. The schedule gives spectators time to visit the food and drink vendors before the competition begins.
Food, Drinks and Live Music Round Out the Afternoon
The event will also include food, drinks, vendors and live music. Tactical Brewing is providing beer and non-alcoholic beverages, according to Franco's Flop Fest's own event page, and gottagoorlando reports that the brewery is planning a special beer release for the event. A vendor market from Parking Lot Party is also expected.
Cholo Dogs, Furtero's hot dog operation, is returning to serve food at the festival, according to the Sentinel. Food trucks and the vendor market will occupy part of New Broad Street, expanding the event beyond the competition itself.
