The other day as I was browsing through my google reader I came across a post by Chiot’s Run (great gardening site, beautiful photos) about the Damariscotta Pumpkin Fest & Regatta. Needless to say I was intrigued.
Here’s the fun thing about that festival. They race HUGE pumpkins down the river while they are sitting in them. Now, some of you may have already known about this, but it was news to me. Think I’m kidding??? Head over to Chiot’s Run and check it out–the photos are about half way down the page. Emma and I LOVED it! We decided right then and there that next year we need to go to this festival.
After reading through the post I realized that there is a whole world of interesting and unusual festivals that I’ve never known about. I started doing some research to see what I could find. Here’s some other’s that sound interesting and a little bizarre:
- Roswell UFO Festival; Roswell, Arizona; July
- Chandler Ostrich Festival; Chandler, Arizona; March
- World Cow Chip Throwing Championship; Beaver, OK; April (um, do Americans have a thing for poo or what???)
- Annual Summer Redneck Games; East Dublin, Georgia; July (Bring it!!!)
- Outhouse Classic; Trenary, MI; Feb (They race outhouse down a ski hill. This is right in my home state and I never knew about it. You can betcha I’ll be there this coming February.)
- RC & Moon Pies Festival; Bell Buckle, Tennessee; June
- Kentucky Bourbon Festival; Bardstown, Kentucky; September
- Damariscotta Pumpkin Fest & Regatta; Damariscotta, Maine; October
I’d like your help in expanding this list. I would love it if I could find at least 2 unusual, fun, or bizarre festivals from each state. Please leave a comment about any unusual festivals you’ve heard of or gone to. I’d really appreciate it. I hear some road trips calling my name.
Cheers,
Wyoming…Torrington…Tanking. They have converted horse tanks to rafts with a beer cooler. We're redneck like that. Best in July. Or the Green River Rendevous in Pinedale…Mountain Man Days. Very fun.
It is not that unusual – Just the people that go there are…The Renaissance Festival in Huntersville NC
i would love to go to the roswell ufo festival – inner geek!
While not very unusual, my favorite event here in New Hampshire is the annual Deerfield Fair! My parents used to take me when I was a kid and now I bring my own kids!
My is not that unusual but it would be the Fernandina Shrimp Festival. Boats, art, pirates and lots of seafood!
Hugs…Tracy
cottonpickincute@hotmail.com
As someone living in and loving Kentucky I can recommend the Derby Festival in Louisville and Lincoln Days in Hodgenville. Both are a total blast, but not really unusual. So for unusual KY festivals you can head to Hillbilly days in Pikeville where for more than 30 years Shriners from all over North America have descended on Pikeville to dress up as hillbillies, join the parade and raise money for crippled children.
Or there is Tater Days in Benton an entire festival that is over 150 years old dedicated to the Sweet Potato.
I live in GA and I've never heard of the Annual Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia – but they sound crazy fun!
Kelly D. ~ dkad23(at)gmail(dot)com
fave: Garlic festival in Gilroy, CA
deannalw47 @ hotmail.com
xoxoxo
Crawdad Days in Harrison, AR, it's a HOOT.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
I've never been to any festivals in Florida but here's one that sounds cool: Festival of Nations in Panama City, FL. There's also the Florida Manatee Festival in Crystal River in January 2011.
Red Flannel Days Festival in Cedar Springs, MI. The Red Flannel Grand Parade- This is the Festival's signature event, the famous Grand Parade draws thousands of people! Be sure to wear red or the Keystone Kops will arrest you! More than 120 entries of floats, bands and entertainment.