Contestants and spectators pack into 11th Street Station’s “Screaming Rubber Band Chickens” Snowdown event at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2. 

11th Street Owner Marcos Wisner prepares a tournament-style bracket for the event. Randomly drawn for the bracket after entering, contestants prepared themselves for several rounds of rubber band slaps all across the body. 

Contestants take turns trying to slap their partner as much as possible. Fitted with screaming chickens in their mouth, contestants moved on in the tournament by making fewer noise than their partner. 

“It hurt so bad,” said contestant Roman Speegle. “He got this double band, so it hit once and then twice. It was insane,” he said. 

Contestants make peace after the final round of rubber band slapping. Despite not winning, contestant Sam Velasquez enjoyed the event. “I got slapped by a lot of rubber bands, and I have the bruises to prove it,” she said.  “I’ll remember it for the rest of my days.”