World Wide Flash Mob XX is a collection of local events held around the world at the same time (10 AM Pacific time).

This event in Smyrna, Tennessee will start at the posted coordinates precisely at noon and end at noon-thirty (Central time). Come prepared to gather quickly, eat a hearty meal*, receive fabulous prizes, take a group photo, then disperse even quicker like nothing just happened!

Can all that really happen in less than 30 minutes? YES!

This is a flash mob; it MUST! 

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Before noon – arrive a few minutes early to find parking, get your “B” stuff ready, and wait....  and wait… and wait patiently

Exactly at noon (with the appearance of the maroon bucket) – dismount from your vehicle and approach Ground Zero with all your stuff

12:00–12:02 – Write your geocaching username - and other requested info – on a note card and drop it in the bucket. You are also invited to sign the event log (if there is one) and the trackable log book (if it has been found by then)

12:02–12:10 - Blow bubbles, inflate balloons, open and close and spin your 'brella, cuddle your teddy bear. Optional (see below): display your bodacious baubles, toss a ball, twirl your baton, ride a bike...You are welcome and encouraged to take and post pictures of all the crazy activities (if you can find a free hand)

12:10–12:11 - "Follow the Leader" to the second location -- single file, please

12:11–12:20 – Enjoy the scrumptious* “feeding of the masses”

12:20–12:21 - Make our way to the third location

12:21–12:28 – Enjoy ourselves immensely;  distribute door prizes;  introduce yourself to new geocaching friends;  share pictures and stories of your favorite geocaches, experiences, and/or trips;  discover the secret of solving a puzzling puzzle cache;  convey how to handle encounters with police, rangers, neighbors, and snakes... and ticks;  demonstrate how to use a compass, GPS, or other Tools Of The Trade; trade and discover travel bugs, geocoins, and other trackables; embellish the story of opening that tricky gadget cache;  share a video of a fantastic event;  brag about how many states and/or countries you have cached in;  boast about how many Mystery geocaches you have solves and/or found;  discuss plans for the next WWFM, CITO, or MEGA events;  describe that delightful Power Trail you conquered;  figure out where to meet post-event;  or simply relish in the warmth of fun and fellowship of time spent with new and old geocaching friends. Yes, all of that within seven minutes!

12:28–12:30 – Group photo! (Express your appreciation to the hosting business)

12:30 – Disperse quickly and quietly **

* You do realize that the time allotted for “feeding of the masses” may include some time for walking plus the distribution, dispersion, consumption, and cleanup of the “food”, right? Don’t expect a catered, sit-down, ten-course dinner using silverware on a white table cloth with fancy folded cloth napkins. A yummy lollypop is possibly all you should expect.   

** It is possible to regather away from Ground Zero after the event. Didn’t we just discuss that between 12:21 and 12:28?

ABOUT WWFM***

World Wide Flash Mob (WWFM ) – A fun and friendly way to promote geocaching around the world.

Thousands of geocachers at dozens of coordinated events spanning the globe, gathering at the same time.

Sonny and Sandy of the PodCacher podcast came up with the WWFM idea in 2007 after attending a mega-event. It was meant to be a fun “opposite” of a mega-event: all the cool aspects of a geocaching event, crammed into 15 minutes of excitement. An added dimension is represented by the letters "WW" - World Wide - these events occur across the planet on the same day at (mostly) the same time! These caching events are intended to bring geocachers together in a creative way, as well as introduce others (newbies) to the hobby.

Check out the History of the Geocaching WWFM events.

Read more about (non-geocaching) Flash Mobs on Wikipedia.

Watch some elaborate Flash Mobs on YouTube.

*** Copied from https://sites.google.com/site/wwfminfo/about-wwfm

WWFM Backstory with GameForTravel

While living in San Diego, GameForTravel (G4T, aka Bobby) attended at least one flash mob event hosted by Sonny and Sandy, the Podcachers, the creators of this type of coordinated events, and attended at least two other WWFMs in California. Since moving to Alabama, G4T has hosted several WWFM events, including:  a pool party where there was no pool;  a Derby Day Parade;  a June phoon at Calhoun;  a picnic in a park;  a pontoon boat;  a battle using water pistols;  and even one in Rome (Italy, not Georgia!).  All of his events have evoked the style of a Podcacher WWFM event: three gatherings in three locations within fifteen minutes! That became a bit easier in 2015 when minimum event lengths of half an hour were introduced.

GameForTravel's event in 2021 was called: "WWFM XVIII - Bubbles, Baubles, Balloons, and Balls". A sudden downpour at the scheduled start time played havoc with the event, so umBrellas were added the following year:  “Bubbles, Balloons, Balls, and/or 'Brellas”. This year's theme has been altered to accommodate National Teddy Bear Day on September 9.

If you have attended an event hosted by GameForTravel, then you are probably aware of his obsession with the first and second items listed in the title. The host will provide a limited supply of each category and everyone is encouraged to bring their own selections to use and/or share; you are invited to include Baubles and Balls, and other "B" items, too - they are simply not listed in the title 'cause there's no room for any more.

Bubbles: from little bottles with tiny wands to mega bubbles with massive looping ropes

Balloons: those that can be inflated with helium – or your own breath (be careful not to hyperventilate!), or those than be twisted into animals and hats and swords

'Brellas: those upside down smiley things that help keep you dry during precipatory times... and add a lot of color in group photos!

Bears: bet everyone has a least one plush (stuffed) teddy bear at home - possibly hidden away somewhere secret (shhhh, we won't tell)

Plus Optional Items:

Baubles: audacious and colorful things you can twirl, especially if they hang around your neck (I’m thinking Mardi Gras beads here – or your grandmother’s cheap and gaudy costume jewelry).

Balls: from ping pong, golf, and whiffle… to basketballs and big beach balls.

Bells: look mighty good tied to your shoelaces... or dangling from your hat, and they sound good, too.

Bandannas: colorful cloth thingees to tie around your head or neck - or wave joyfully in the air

NOTE: as of August 3, there are 41 events published in 9 countries, with 14 events in USA.