What’s better than hundreds of people named Josh hitting each other with pool noodles?
Hundreds of Joshes fighting two years in a row — but this time with food trucks, a costume contest and prizes.
A year ago, Arizona native Josh Swain hit send on a tweet, joking that he would fight everyone with the same name. The idea went viral on social media, and much to Swain’s surprise, people began talking about visiting the random coordinates he’d mentioned.
Josh Swain came to Lincoln from Arizona last year to stage the first Josh Fight.
Swain knew he had to follow through on his plan, so he made his way to Lincoln, where hundreds of Joshes grabbed pool noodles in an open field in Air Park for the first series of Josh Fights on April 23, 2021.
Now, Swain is looking to defend his name yet again with an anniversary Josh Fight on May 21. This year, the event will be at 11 a.m. at Bowling Lake Park. Ticket sales ($11 fighters, $10 spectators) will go to Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha.
Joshes and non-Joshes are welcome to attend, as food trucks from Tastee Trailer and Taco Loco will be there. Winners of the costume contest will receive gift baskets courtesy of the Lincoln Airport.
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Swain is also selling Josh Fight merchandise. All the proceeds from the T-shirts and pins will go to Partners in Health, a national organization that prevents maternal and infant mortality.
Last year, Swain’s event raised more than $44,000 for Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha.
Part of the reason the event went over so well, he believes, is because of its location. Swain said Nebraskans are generous, and they welcomed the Josh Fight with open arms. He’s now an honorary citizen of Lincoln, an honor bestowed by the mayor after last year’s fight.
“I don’t think this event would work anywhere else,” Swain said. “The people of Lincoln are just so nice.”
Last year’s event turned out much better than Swain ever would’ve guessed, he said. It was a miracle everything came together last-minute. With more time to plan this year, he’s hoping for bigger and better.
“People loved it last year and they said they wanted it again,” Swain said. “Who am I to deprive them of that?”
And maybe — just maybe — Swain said, the Josh Fight will become an annual event.
“If all goes well this year, we just might have to keep it going,” he said.
Photos: Hundreds battle with pool noodles for the name Josh
Multiple people named Josh fight with pool noodles last year in Air Park. What started as a mid-pandemic joke came to life, and now plans are in the works for a 2022 event.
Josh Swain (left) declares Lincoln 4-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr. the ultimate Josh after Saturday’s “Battle of the Joshes” in Air Park. What started as a mid-pandemic joke came to life, as a mixed bag of individuals sharing the name Josh came to battle it out with pool noodles.
Multiple people with the name Josh duked it out with pool noodles last month in Air Park.
A man going by Big Josh (middle) defends himself with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Spectators not named Josh record the battle from the safety of the sidelines.
A man going by Big Josh defends himself with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
A man named Josh brought headgear to the battle.
Hundreds gathered to battle it out to find out who is the rightful owner of the name Josh on Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some not named Josh, duked it out with pool noodles to find out who is the rightful owner of the name on Saturday.
Hundreds of people gathered with pool noodles and other foam weapons Saturday in Air Park to find out who is the rightful owner of the name Josh.
Josh Swain (left), the originator of the Saturday’s battle of Joshes, takes on another Josh as they decide the rightful owner of the name Josh via a game of rock-paper-scissors in Air Park.
Josh Swain (left), the originator of the joke, takes on another Josh as they decide the rightful owner of the name Josh via a game of rock, paper, scissors Saturday in Air Park.
Lincoln 4-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr. was crowned the ultimate Josh on Saturday in Air Park.
Lincoln 4-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr. (top right), is lifted into the air after being declared the ultimate Josh on Saturday in Air Park. What started as a mid-pandemic joke took on life Saturday, as a mixed bag of individuals sharing the name Josh came to battle it out with pool noodles. The winner was to be declared the rightful owner of the name Josh.
Lincoln 4-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr. is crowned the ultimate Josh on April 24 in Air Park. What started as a mid-pandemic joke came to life, as a mixed bag of individuals sharing only their name came to battle it out with pool noodles.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some Josh imposters, duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some Josh imposters, duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some Josh imposters, duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Josh Swain, (bottom left) announces the end of the Josh fight Saturday in Air Park. What he started as a mid-pandemic joke came to life, as a mixed bag of individuals sharing only their name came to battle it out. The winner was to be declared the rightful owner of the name.
A handmade plaque is presented to commemorate the battle of the Joshes after a pool noodle battle Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some Josh imposters, duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Multiple people with the name Josh, and some Josh imposters, duked it out with pool noodles Saturday in Air Park.
Others named Josh celebrate the victory of Lincoln 4-year-old Joshua Vinson Jr. (not pictured) after he was declared the ultimate Josh on Saturday in Air Park.
Reach the writer at jthompson@journalstar.com
