DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jeep Beach 2023, the world’s largest Jeep event, wraps up its 20th year this weekend in Daytona Beach.
What You Need To Know
- Sunday is the last day for Jeep Beach 2023 in Daytona Beach
- The event features obstacle courses, vendors, concerts, food and activities for kids
- A Jeep Beach parade will be held right on Daytona Beach on Sunday
- As part of the event, tickets can be purchased to win a drawing for a new Jeep
The event is dedicated to all things Jeep, with obstacles courses to cruise through, concerts, vendors selling industry merchandise, all kinds of food and drink, activities to keep children busy and a Jeep Beach parade Sunday on Daytona Beach.
Everett Flaitz, an electrician and Jeep enthusiast who last year won the iconic event’s drawing for a new Wrangler, calls Port Orange home after moving to Volusia County five years ago from Ohio.
“We love the warm weather, the beaches and — uh, uh — we don’t have to worry about shoveling snow,” Flaitz said as he cruised in his Wrangler, Jeep’s most popular model.
Flaitz bought a ticket, didn’t think anything of it, and then he heard the words, “You are the winner!”
“I’ve never won anything in my life — so it’s incredible we won this,” said Flaitz, who had purchased another Jeep for his wife just before they won in 2022.
Now they have two Jeeps.
It’s not just “a” car to get from Point “A” to Point “B,” he said.
“You can just use them on the beach, go off-roading or just drive ‘em around as your everyday vehicle,” Flaitz said.
So, how exactly did he enter to win? He bought a $50 ticket.
What’s most rewarding to Flaitz is knowing the proceeds from the drawing stay local.
“That $50 you spend to win the Jeep, it goes to charity,” he said as he drove his yellow Jeep on the powdery sands of Daytona Beach.
Jeep Beach organizers’ goal this year is to give away $1 million to charities in Volusia and Flagler counties. The funds raised go to programs, not overhead costs, they said.
It’s not too late to get in on this year’s drawing on Saturday. The $50 ticket for a shot at this event’s Jeep can be purchased online.
The 2023 Jeep being given away this year is a flamboyant red called “punk’n,” and it comes with special Jeep Beach badging that pays homage to Daytona International Speedway and the 20th anniversary of Jeep Beach.
It also comes with a trailer from tinycampers.com that is fully equipped, with features such as a kitchen, a TV and creature comforts inside. Its roof extends to an A-frame, so you can put the children on top and mom and dad on the bottom during off-road adventures.