Coming to Ocean Center and Peabody in Daytona Beach: Monster trucks, competitive beards

When it comes to niche crowds, it’ll be hard to beat the “world’s collide” demographics along the sidewalks outside the Ocean Center and neighboring Peabody Auditorium next weekend.

If you’ve ever wondered whether monster truck fans and competitive beard-growers can co-exist in peace, this will be an opportunity to find out.

Here’s what you need to know about what’s happening at the two venues next weekend:

Is there a monster truck show headed to the Ocean Center?

Absolutely.

An armada of five-ton monster trucks and the people who love them will invade the county-run convention center on Saturday, Nov. 4, for the Monster Truck Nitro Tour.

Dubbed the “Monster Neon X-perience,” the heavy-duty spectacle will feature two shows that spotlight the noise, power and outrageous style of 10,000-pound, car-crushing giants competing in events that include racing, wheelie contests and freestyle action.

Audience members also can get up-close-and-personal with the drivers and vehicles at pre-event Autograph Pit Parties before each show.

What are show times for the Ocean Center monster truck event?

There’s an afternoon show that starts at 1:30 p.m., with an hourlong pit party that runs from noon-1 p.m. That’s followed by a 7:30 p.m. show, with a pit party from 6-7 p.m.

How much are tickets for the monster truck show?

Tickets range from $20.50-$35.50, with family packs available for $80 in advance only. Those prices don’t include additional fees.

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Tickets are available online at monstertrucktour.com or ticketmaster.com or day-of-event at the door.

There’s also a beard-growing event happening next door?

Yes.

The 2023 Honest Amish National Beard and Moustache Championships also are slated for Saturday, Nov. 4, at Peabody Auditorium, just across the street from the Ocean Center.

What's the National Beard and Moustache Championship?

Facial-hair enthusiasts (who knew, right?) from throughout the United States will be in Daytona Beach for the competition, which offers a full slate of events Nov. 2-5 at Peabody.

The highlight will be the championship competition, which runs from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 4. More than 300 participants are expected to compete in nearly 50 classes in four different categories.

Spectator tickets will be available for $10 at the door, with ages 12 and younger admitted free.

What else is on tap at the national beard competition?

Ahead of Saturday’s championship competition, event participants will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for Longest Beard Chain on Friday, Nov. 3, at Joe’s Crab Shack on the Daytona Beach Pier.

At the 2022 championships in Casper, Wyoming, 69 men joined together at the beard to set a record of 150 feet, 10.75 inches. That’s more than twice as long as the previous mark set in Germany in 2007.

The Daytona Beach record attempt will include separate categories for Moustache Chain and Partial Beard Chain, among others.

It’s the first time that the national championship has happened in Florida, according to Bryan Nelson, creative director at Beard Team USA, the event’s organizer.

“We are looking forward to seeing the fabulous local facial hair that the Sunshine State has to offer,” he said in a press release. “We have over 45 divisions that cover almost every style of facial hair, from moustaches to sideburns, from short beards to long beards, and even a few craft divisions where women (and some men) will compete with their own artistic creations.”

The event also will feature facial hair care professionals on-site to offer styling advice as well as product demos and samples from Honest Amish, the leading provider of facial hair grooming products.

Visit www.nationalbeardchampionships.com for tickets and details.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Monster trucks and national beard competition both headed to Daytona