BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, Fla. — On Sunday, the second annual Florida Alligator Festival took place near South Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve.
Attendees professed their love for Florida wildlife by wearing alligator-themed backpacks, t-shirts reading “swamp addiction” and other memorabilia.
The festival included a reptile exhibit for children and various vendors from the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes, showcasing Native American art like beadwork and traditional foods such as fry bread.
Organizers aim to revive the appreciation for the outdoor “Old Florida” culture— a blend shaped by native tribes and the original “Gladesmen,” families who have long resided in South Florida’s swamps.
“Today, we honor the traditional art of alligator wrestling. Many participants here are locals, raised in the Big Cypress Swamp,” explained Jack Shealy, owner of the Trail Lakes Campground at the Skunk Ape Headquarters where the event was held.
Paul Simmons, popularly known as Swamp Man Paul, demonstrated alligator wrestling techniques while sharing insights about the tradition’s history.
“Like baseball or football, there are essential safety guidelines. Ignoring them leads to injury,” he noted.
