12 American Festivals You’ve Never Heard Of But Need to Attend
There are festivals in America for everything under the sun including food, music, art, and just plain old fun. We’ve all heard of the famous ones—Coachella, Mardi Gras, Sundance Film Festival—but some lesser-known gems offer just as much excitement (and occasionally a little wackiness).
These festivals are all delightful ways to escape the norm and come back with unforgettable stories.
Spanish Fork, Utah – Llama Festival
Have you ever wanted to hang out with llamas? Spanish Fork has you covered. The city hosts the Stuff Head Llama Festival celebrating the much-loved woolly animals every summer. There are llama shows to watch, competitions to participate in, and even opportunities to take llamas for a walk. There’s plenty of live music, dancing, and local food to entertain people. A bit of Andean culture in the beautiful Utah landscape.
Nederland, Colorado – Frozen Dead Guy Days
The name itself is enough to draw anyone’s attention. Frozen Dead Guy Days is an annual winter festival celebrating, you guessed it, a frozen dead guy. Coffin races, polar plunges, ice turkey bowling, and other wacky cold weather fun are part of the festival. This festival will have a taste for the bizarre, a blend of dark humor, and even winter activities to warm the spirit—even in subzero temperatures.
Clinton, Montana – Testicle Festival
This festival is exactly what it sounds like, yes. Rocky Mountain oysters may not sell in every country, but in Montana, they’re celebrated at the annual Testicle Festival. It isn’t everyone’s sort of thing, but with its thousands of visitors every summer, the festival caters to anybody who fancies trying this unusual delicacy. You can also expect live music, dancing, and all the rowdy, rustic fun Montana can provide, besides the adventurous food.
Raleigh, North Carolina – BugFest
Raleigh’s BugFest is an event that should be marked on your calendar if you’re a fan of creepy crawlies. This festival celebrates insects and includes educational booths, activities, and even the chance to try bug-themed foods like chocolate-covered crickets. It’s a family-type event where the kids and the adults learn a little bit about our insect friends and hopefully appreciate them more!
Looe Key, Florida – Underwater Music Festival
This festival, held every July in the Florida Keys, is exactly what you’d expect: An underwater music festival. Ocean-inspired tunes are played by local musicians on an underwater stage and divers and snorkelers gather around. It’s ethereal music, perfect for fans, and filled with good vibes. The music is broadcast through the water.
Newry, Maine – Wife Carrying Championship
Yes, this is a real thing. Maine’s Wife Carrying Championship is a copycat of a Finnish sport in which husbands carry their wives through an obstacle course. The grand prize? The wife’s weight in beer! It’s a goofy, energetic event, where competitors from all over the country try to make it through the mud and water to win the top prize. Even if you’re just there to watch, it’s a hilarious, high energy event you won’t soon forget.
Yukon, Canada – International Hair Freezing Contest
The International Hair Freezing Contest in February is just for you if you don’t mind snow, ice, and a touch of frostbite. Participants dunk their heads in hot springs, then allow the icy air to style their hair into wild shapes. The best ‘frozen hairstyle’ gets a prize. This one will require most Americans to trek, but it’s worth it for the bragging rights.
Twinsburg, Ohio – Twins Days Festival
The world’s largest gathering of twins takes place each year in Twinsburg. Lots of photo ops with doppelgängers, a weekend of look-alike contests, and parades. They come from all over: whole families of twins and sometimes even triplets. Even if you’re not a twin, you can still enjoy the festivities and marvel at the uncanny resemblance on every street corner.
Bridgeville, Delaware – A Punkin Chunkin’
If you’ve ever wondered how far a pumpkin can fly, Punkin Chunkin is the place to go. It’s a festival where you try to propel pumpkins as far as is humanly (or mechanically) possible, with everything from trebuchets to air cannons. It’s a flying gourd and cheering crowds spectacle. Teams from all over the country compete for the longest shot. There’s also food, music, and all the fall festival charm you’d expect.
Marlinton, West Virginia – Roadkill Cook-Off
Every September, the Roadkill Cook-Off is hosted in Marlinton, a festival that is exactly what it sounds like. Cooks cook meats that might otherwise be found on the roadside: squirrel stew or venison burgers. The food is surprisingly a hit with attendees, but it’s as much about creativity and humor as it is about food. It’s not your typical culinary event, but you’ll never forget it.
Crystal Falls, Michigan – Humongous Fungus Festival
Mushroom lovers will enjoy the Humongous Fungus Festival, especially if you’re a fan of the world’s largest living organism: a giant fungus colony that covers 37 acres underground. This quirky festival in August includes a mushroom cook off, parade and even a ‘fungus fest’ to learn about this local fungus culture. A good look at Michigan’s fungal giant and a must for any mycology enthusiast.
Clute, Texas – Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Even the Great Texas Mosquito gets a festival in Clute every summer to celebrate the pesky insects that Texans have to deal with daily. It’s not all about mosquitoes, but there’s a 5K run, carnival rides, and a barbecue cook-off. The Mosquito Legs contest is even braver, where the winner is whoever has the thinnest legs. Fun with a funny twist, it is for people to have a good time over a shared love-hate relationship with the mosquitos.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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