Summer is a time lying out on beaches, trying out the new rides at theme parks, and of course, checking out your local festivals. Some festivals will feature kiddie rides and funnel cakes, some will showcase the best rock bands, and some will give an opportunity for crafty people to sell their arts. However, there are some festivals out there that are well, unique...very unique. Some are just straight up wacky.
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site recently released their picks for the wackiest summer events and festivals, and they are interesting.
1.The Great Texas Mosquito Festival - June 26 - 28, Clute, Texas
The town of Clute will be buzzing with excitement during their 32nd annual Great Texas Mosquito Festival. This busy festival draws in about 13,000 people. Festival goers will be able to take photos with Willie-Man-Chew, the world's largest (fake) mosquito at 26 feet tall. Some events include the mosquito calling competition, where for who knows what reason, contestants summon bugs, and the mosquito chase run. The festival also features musical performances and a barbecue and fajita cook off.
Admission: $5 - $15 for adults, and $3 - $5 for senior citizens and children alike (ages five and under are free).
2. Slugburger Festival - July 12 - 14, Corinth, Mississippi
Who doesn't love a good slugburger? Those in Mississippi sure do! So much so, that the Slugburger Festival is in its 25th year. What is a slugburger exactly? Don't worry, slugs are not included, but it is a Corinth delight made up on deep-fried beef and soy meal patties. Attendees can grab a few sliders and watch the World Slugburger Eating Championship or the Slug Idol talent contest and then enjoy some carnival rides.
Admission: General admission is free of charge on Thursday, $6 on Friday and $10 on Saturday.
3. World Chicken Festival - September 27 - 30, London, Kentucky
Being that its home of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder, Colonel Harland Sander, London, Kentucky is the perfect setting to celebrate the endless chicken culinary options. Every year, close to 150,000 people come out to this chicken-loving fest. Festival-goers can watch or participate in a hot wing eating contest, a clucking competition, or the famous "Chicken Scratch," in which kids sift through 600 pounds of flour to find some dough ( The money kind). Of course, there are plenty of chicken dishes available to taste, which are easily made with the world's largest stainless steel skillet. The 10 feet, six inch frying pan can cook up 600 chicken quarters at a home, so no one will go hungry here, except maybe vegetarians.
Admission: Free!
4. Humungus Fungus Fest - August 3 - 5, 2012, Crystal Falls, Michigan
This festival pays respects to the fungus between your toes. Just kidding! Now that would be gross. This festival is all about mushrooms-big mushrooms. Here, people come to see the largest mushroom in the world, at 11 tons. Attendees can also enjoy some dishes from the mushroom cook off or snack on a slice of the world's largest mushroom pizza. To work off these treats, people can compete in the Strong Man Contest and toss around some tires and capapult some kegs, or you can just stand out of the way and watch the fun.
Admission: Free!
5. Wausau Possum Festival - August 4, Wausau, Florida
Everyone loves a cuddly, sharp-toothed, beady-eyed possum! Well, at least people like to eat them in Florida. The annual Possum Festival, not in it's 43rd year, remembers it's culinary history of when people used possums as a main food source during the Great Depression. Wausau is home to 400 people, but 5,000 come out to this fest to enjoy delicacies like possum hash. They can also participate in events like the 5km "Possum Trot," the Possum King and Queen Pageants, and the Possum parade.
Admission: Free!
Some other odd festivals coming up are:
National Hollerin' Contest - June 16, Spivey's Corner, North Carolina
Mattoon Bagelfest - July 19 - 21, Mattoon, Illinois
Hope Watermelon Festival - August 9 - 11, Hope, Arkansas
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
