We Americans love us a party. That’s how hundreds of communities across the country started fun and funky festivals celebrating animals, vegetables, and anything else a town can possibly lay claim to. Here are a few of my favorites:
Food Related Festivals
Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California
You can usually find the town of Gilroy, California by smell, such is the odor produced by the millions of garlic bulbs growing in the surrounding fields. Town officials decided to take those “Ewwws” and turn them in to “Yums” with the annual Garlic Festival. Huge vats of garlicky shrimp scampi feed the masses while the more adventurous sample garlic chocolate and garlic ice cream. Come prepared with breath mints, please.
Spamarama, Austin, Texas
For devotees of canned pork products, all things Spam are celebrated in Austin, Texas. There are Spam cooking contests, Spam music and Spamalympics which includes a Spam eating contest, of course. No word if there are any contests for email SPAM.
Testicle Festival Clinton, Montana
Some people like to “purty up” the food and call them “Rocky Mountain Oysters”, but this festival calls ‘em as they are. The “oysters” are usually served deep fried. Yum.
Food Related Festivals
Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California
You can usually find the town of Gilroy, California by smell, such is the odor produced by the millions of garlic bulbs growing in the surrounding fields. Town officials decided to take those “Ewwws” and turn them in to “Yums” with the annual Garlic Festival. Huge vats of garlicky shrimp scampi feed the masses while the more adventurous sample garlic chocolate and garlic ice cream. Come prepared with breath mints, please.
Spamarama, Austin, Texas
For devotees of canned pork products, all things Spam are celebrated in Austin, Texas. There are Spam cooking contests, Spam music and Spamalympics which includes a Spam eating contest, of course. No word if there are any contests for email SPAM.
Testicle Festival Clinton, Montana
Some people like to “purty up” the food and call them “Rocky Mountain Oysters”, but this festival calls ‘em as they are. The “oysters” are usually served deep fried. Yum.
National Lentil Festival, Pullman, WA
Much more boring than bull genitalia, the residents of Pullman, WA cook up the world’s largest bowl of lentil chili every year. Of course it could be the worlds only bowl of lentil chill made each year too.
Pickle Fest, Atkins, Arkansas
With the biggest employer in the small town being the pickle factory, this festival is a no-brainer. Home of the original deep-fried pickle and the pickle juice drinking contest (my mouth puckers at the thought) this is a festival where sour pusses are welcome.
Critter Related Festivals
Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee, California
This small town took the short story by Mark Twain “Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” and turned it into an actual event. Frogs and their handlers compete around the country throughout the year to earn spot in this “invitation only” event. The long distance competition comes with a $5,000 purse for the winner. Losers are open to be kissed to see if they are really royalty.
Slug Festival, Eatonville, Washington
Frogs not slimy enough for you? There are 23 species of slugs on the wet Olympic coast, so they decided to bring them together and put them on display. While slugs have 27,000 teeth and eat their weight every day, there aren’t a lot of other things they can do since they move so slow. Hopefully this festival is not held anywhere near the salt festival.
Frogs not slimy enough for you? There are 23 species of slugs on the wet Olympic coast, so they decided to bring them together and put them on display. While slugs have 27,000 teeth and eat their weight every day, there aren’t a lot of other things they can do since they move so slow. Hopefully this festival is not held anywhere near the salt festival.
Great Texas Mosquito Festival, Clute, Texas
Texans like to brag that everything is bigger in Texas, so this moist and muggy town celebrates the bloodsuckers, big and small. There is a “mosquito calling” contest and a “mosquito legs” contest for skinny legged men and women. See, everyone can be a star!
Texans like to brag that everything is bigger in Texas, so this moist and muggy town celebrates the bloodsuckers, big and small. There is a “mosquito calling” contest and a “mosquito legs” contest for skinny legged men and women. See, everyone can be a star!
Wooly Worm Festival, Banner Elk, North Carolina
Caterpillars multitask at this festival. First they race and then the winner will predict the weather for the coming winter. A prognosticator will “read” the bands of color on the winning worm and make the declaration. Hey, why should a groundhog have all the fun?
Caterpillars multitask at this festival. First they race and then the winner will predict the weather for the coming winter. A prognosticator will “read” the bands of color on the winning worm and make the declaration. Hey, why should a groundhog have all the fun?
Just because they can, festivals
UFO Festival, Roswell, New Mexico
On July 7, 1947 a UFO was said to crash outside of the town of Roswell, and the “believers” have been trekking to this town ever since. Every July the town hosts conferences about the “incident” for the faithful, and an alien costume contest, parade and hot air balloon ride for those who many not be so sure.
On July 7, 1947 a UFO was said to crash outside of the town of Roswell, and the “believers” have been trekking to this town ever since. Every July the town hosts conferences about the “incident” for the faithful, and an alien costume contest, parade and hot air balloon ride for those who many not be so sure.
Bonnie and Clyde Festival, Gibsland, Louisiana
The famous criminal duo met their demise in this Louisiana parish in 1934. Now every year local folks reenact the shooting complete with lots of fake blood. You can even see the actual bullet riddled car…that was used in the movie.
The famous criminal duo met their demise in this Louisiana parish in 1934. Now every year local folks reenact the shooting complete with lots of fake blood. You can even see the actual bullet riddled car…that was used in the movie.
Quiet Festival, Ocean City, New Jersey
All these festivals tired you out? The people of Ocean City were likewise overwhelmed with all the events the town hosted during the year so they hold this festival which includes mimes, silent movies, and a community “Yawn Along” to “Beautiful Dreamer”. Bet you just yawned now.
All these festivals tired you out? The people of Ocean City were likewise overwhelmed with all the events the town hosted during the year so they hold this festival which includes mimes, silent movies, and a community “Yawn Along” to “Beautiful Dreamer”. Bet you just yawned now.
