Strange celebrations

Odd Festivals

Celebrations, contests, gatherings, and traditions that could only happen here.

67 documented festivalsBrowse the festival calendar

Albatwitch Day

Wrightsville, Pennsylvania

Albatwitch Day celebrates a small apple-stealing Susquehanna cryptid with speakers, vendors, music and paranormal-flavored activities along the river.

October

Beast Fest

Bladenboro, North Carolina

Bladenboro turns its 1950s mystery-beast story into a downtown fall festival with music, food, carnival attractions and local folklore.

October

Circleville Pumpkin Show

Circleville, Ohio

Circleville takes over downtown with giant pumpkins, elaborate displays, parades, rides, pumpkin foods and one of America's oldest pumpkin celebrations.

October

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

Damariscotta, Maine

Giant pumpkins become boats for a wildly impractical race on the Damariscotta River.

October

Emma Crawford Coffin Races

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Costumed teams race decorated coffins through the streets of Manitou Springs.

October

Green Eyes Festival

Chickamauga, Georgia

Chickamauga blends battlefield folklore, cryptids and paranormal stories with speakers, music, vendors, costumes and tours at a free downtown festival.

October

Lake Worth Monster Bash

Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth revisits its shaggy Lake Worth Monster legend with cryptozoology talks, nature activities, vendors and family Halloween programming.

October

North American Wife Carrying Championship

Newry, Maine

Couples tackle an obstacle course at Sunday River with beer and cash on the line.

October

Rougarou Fest

Houma, Louisiana

Houma turns Cajun werewolf folklore into a free weekend of costumes, howling, music, cultural demonstrations, food and a parade.

October

Woollybear Festival

Vermilion, Ohio

Vermilion celebrates fuzzy woollybear caterpillars with races, costumes, a giant parade, entertainment and the weather folklore popularized by Dick Goddard.

October

World Championship Outhouse Races

Virginia City, Nevada

Virginia City sends decorated outhouses careening down its historic streets.

January

Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival

Fellsmere, Florida

Fellsmere turns frog legs and gator tail into a four-day January tradition with dinners, rides, live music, vendors and a large community turnout.