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12 Offbeat Festivals As Wacky As Groundhog Day You Should Know About
Ever found yourself wondering just how many oddball festivals exist out there, where the defining theme would make your eyebrows raise and your curiosity follow suit? Well, you’re about to find out.
While Punxsutawney Phil steals the stage every February, he’s far from the only game in town. Because around the U.S., towns and cities play host to a delightfully absurd array of celebrations throughout the year – honoring everything from garlic to UFOs, and from headless chickens to frozen grandpas.
And we’ve rounded up some of the quirkiest festivals where you can gorge, laugh, and marvel at humanity’s brilliantly bizarre ways of having fun.
Got a funny local festival we missed? Drop it in the comments and tell everyone to visit!
Frozen Dead Guy Days – Nederland, Colorado
What’s cooler than being cool? (Ice cold!…did you all sing that?) How about celebrating a cryogenically frozen grandpa in Nederland, Colorado? Yes, this real festival honors a man preserved on dry ice – and the townsfolk throw a wild winter bash complete with coffin races and polar plunging.
Picture locals dressed as pallbearers sprinting with makeshift coffins through the icy streets, as if auditioning for the strangest Winter Olympic event imaginable. But grab your parka (and maybe a sense of the absurd), because this March shindig thrives on snowy shenanigans.
Roswell UFO Festival – Roswell, New Mexico
Aliens, conspiracy theories, and costume contests so shiny they could beam you up? Welcome to the Roswell UFO Festival, where the truth isn’t just out there – it’s on parade. Decades after the 1947 “UFO crash,” Roswell throws an annual extraterrestrial carnival of abduction lore and glow-in-the-dark festivals.
The costumes? Out of this world. Attendees wear everything from space-age helmets to full alien body suits. And don’t forget the alien-themed pet costume contest because even little Fido deserves his shot at intergalactic stardom.
Underwater Music Festival – Florida Keys, Florida
Ever wanted to go scuba-diving while rocking out to ocean-themed tunes? The Underwater Music Festival lets you do just that. Held in the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys every summer, performers “play” marine life-inspired instruments…all while underwater speakers blast aquatic tracks (there definitely has to be a whale song or two).
Kitted out like flippered rock stars, divers swim among coral reefs to the soundscape of Jimmy Buffett hits. And whether you’re more into grooving or simply gawking while snorkeling, it’s aquatic eccentricity at its absolute wettest.
Mothman Festival – Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Move over Bigfoot, there’s a winged creature with glowing red eyes stealing the cryptid spotlight here. The Mothman Festival celebrates West Virginia’s spookiest legend, complete with eerie statue photo ops, conspiracy breadcrumbs, and monstrous storytelling.
By day, you’ll taste local treats like “Mothman pancakes,” but by night, expect a whole lot of eerie as the town leans into its shadowy folklore. Costume contests and eerie museum tours make it clear – the only thing scarier than the Mothman hype might be forgetting your camera.
Twins Days Festival – Twinsburg, Ohio
If seeing double makes your head spin, you might want to brace yourself for Twinsburg’s Twins Days Festival. The name says it all – this celebration is dedicated to biological duos dressed in matching outfits. Think socks, shoes, hats, and even personalities, all perfectly paired.
Every August, identical and fraternal twins from all walks of life come together in synchronized joy. Highlights include wacky twin-talent shows and photogenic parades where the term “genetic photocopy” really comes to life.
Outhouse Races – Lake George, New York
“Go big or go…potty?” Lake George transforms outhouses into go-kart masterpieces at the Outhouse Races, where contestants zigzag down icy tracks with homemade restroom rigs. Competitors push these rolling lavatories to glory, with decorated themes ranging from porta-potties to elaborate genie lamps with toilet tanks perched inside.
Spectator tip #1? Bring a good coat; it’s New York in winter, after all. Spectator tip #2? Keep your sense of humor handy and your expectations…flushable.
Garlic Festival – Gilroy, California
Garlic ice cream? Garlic cocktails? At Gilroy’s Garlic Festival, no clove is left behind. This pungent food fest is a carb-lover’s dream, featuring garlicky everything – from scampi and fries to roasted garlic bread (which you’ll want to eat forever).
The aroma alone could make any vampire flee two towns over. And for those who prefer their garlic with pizzazz, cheer on the cook-off competitions where flames – and garlic cloves – fly to dizzying effect.
Redneck Games – East Dublin, Georgia
Ever seen someone throw a toilet seat like a discus or belly flop into a mud pit for fun? Say hello to the Redneck Games. Created as a tongue-in-cheek event, this festival is about celebrating simplicity and getting muddy with grace.
Events include competitive watermelon seed spitting, mud-sliding Olympics, and makeshift tug of wars. If you can’t laugh your boots off here, you might need a new sense of humor.
Spam Jam Festival – Waikiki, Hawaii
They say necessity is the mother of invention, but in Hawaii, it’s also the mother of SPAM delicacies. At the Spam Jam Festival, eaters revel in creative uses of this canned classic – from Spam sushi to Spam-topped pizzas dripping with nostalgia.
Musical performances light up the streets of Waikiki while SPAM dishes are enjoyed like haute cuisine. Not bad for a festival honoring meat in a tin can (that somehow tastes better than we dare admit).
Roadkill Cook-off – Marlinton, West Virginia
When life hands Marlinton squirrel stew, the town responds with a full-blown Roadkill Cook-off. This (slightly controversial) festival showcases recipes featuring “wild game” – think raccoon, squirrel, and other woodland critters whipped into surprisingly gourmet dishes.
Packed with aroma wafting from sizzling stoves, the air smells…well, earthy. Brave souls line up to taste-test entries, all while live bluegrass music and storytelling keep the energy rural but riveting.
Cheese Curd Festival – Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Grab your stretchy pants…it’s about to get delightfully cheesy. The Cheese Curd Festival in Ellsworth celebrates the holy grail of Wisconsin snacking, focusing (naturally) on squeaky, fried chunks of joy.
Cheese-lovers flock to sample curds in every flavor imaginable; beer-battered, Cajun-spiced, and even chocolate-dipped (you can’t knock it until you’ve tried it). Add live polka bands, and your weekend in dairy paradise practically plans itself.
Mike The Headless Chicken Festival – Fruita, Colorado
Curiosity, thy name is Mike. This small-town festival honors a chicken that lived 18 months without a head thanks to a strangely partial decapitation. There’s live music, races to see who can “run like a chicken with their head cut off,” and plenty of poultry-themed fun.
Highlights include art vendors, chicken dance contests, and BBQ eats.
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