 It's the time of year to grab your spurs and your best mud wrestling outfit (along with a strong stomach) and your best sense of humor, pack the truck and head on out to The Official Texas Redneck Games Aug. 2 - 5 in Athens.
Not sure you're a redneck? Here's a few clues for you from Comedian Jeff Foxworthy:
You might be a redneck if you think possum is "the Other White Meat."
...You carried a fishing pole into Sea World.
...Fifth grade was the best six years of your life.
...Your house doesn't have curtains, but your truck does.
...Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.
Even if you don't consider yourself a redneck, the entertainment value of this event is one you can't find anywhere else. While demographics show there are rednecks in every state, the majority seem to rule the South, and yes, even in the Lone Star State.
So it's no surprise that it was in the South that the idea for a "Redneck event" was born. It all started back in 1996 by an Atlanta radio station as a spoof of the Summer Olympics in that city. The games are the inspiration of Jeff Kidd and his team at WQZY. Their initial intention was to give Olympic spectators reasons to stop off in the small town of East Dublin as they traveled between the games in Atlanta and the ice hockey events in nearby Savannah.
 Over the last decade the event has grown in popularity and spawned more Redneck Games across the nation. Even Canada has gotten into the act. It has to be said that the uniqueness of the competitions brings large crowds every year.One of the events involve the official SPAM eating contest, and this year "girls gone wild" will be there to wrestle in the mud right along with you. Sheesh!
Texas Redneck Games, are now in their 3rd year and this year, has a new location -- Athens, Texas, at the Pool Ranch ATV Park. This is one of the finest ATV parks in East Texas. You might say it is downright exclusive. The park is generally only open for "mudding" four or five times a year and is normally a private deer lease. But property owners felt this was such a great event that they opened their doors for this unsual celebration.
The ranch has over 3,000 acres of sandy riding trails which run through beautiful stretches of wild pine forest, along with several mud bogs and mud trails. There is plenty of primitive camping available in the surrounding fields as well, so bring the tent or RV. Plus the nearby city of Athens has plenty of nice hotel accommodations and restaurants -- for you pansy rednecks.
 According to spectators, they wouldn't miss what they call the redneck social event of the year. With events like the mud pit belly buster (a favorite of locals) and the mattress chunk to entertain you, why stay home and watch a fishing show on the tube?
Though some events may be viewed as a bit tacky (butt crack contest) or on the R-rated side (wet T-shirt contest and daisy duke show off), event promoters say it really is in good fun. However, children under the age of 18 are not allowed at the event unless they are in the company of an adult or have a signed consent form. What does that tell you?
The Texas Redneck games combines tongue-in-cheek events with live music concerts, and this year Country Performers will include Kevin Fowler and Mark Cooke and The County Line band. While there are no entry fees for the redneck events, there will be cash entry fees for the Texas Road Off-Shoot Out, a series of three events where rednecks and their trucks compete for dollars and honors! The top prize for most of the redneck events is a trophy topped with a crushed Bud Light can. Who wouldn't want one of those on their mantle? Redneck or not, you're bound to get a serious chuckle or two out of the event.
Event Information:
Weekend passes:
$25/Person, $15/ATV, $10/ Primitive Camping Pass (charge per camp not per person includes tent camping and primitive rv camping; Children 7 & under are free.
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