A lot of small towns across America have their own little traditions in the way of weekend contests. You’ve got century-old pie-eating competitions that are still going strong. Then, of course, you’ve got your quirkier, often more recent entries. Tourists flock to each one, hoping to get a taste of the local flavor. These 11 weekend competitions prove just how deep that tradition and creativity can go.
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Possum Festival – Wausau, Florida
Wausau, Florida has held the title of the “Possum Capital of the World” and for the last 50 years the Wausau Possum Festival, an annual festival and home to Wausau, has taken place on the first Saturday of August each year. This festival features parades and talent shows along with vendor booths and live music performances while offering unique contests like Possum King & Queen and donkey ball.
Coffin races – Nederland, Colorado
Frozen Dead Guy Days was originally started in Nederland, Colorado, to celebrate “Grandpa Bredo”, Bredo Morstøl, who was cryogenically frozen. It is known for its coffin races, where teams of “pallbearers” race through snow and mud in decorated coffins. The races are well attended by spectators, but in 2023 the festival moved to Estes Park because of the logistics of Nederland combined with the increasing size of the event.
Running of the Tubs – Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas, is host to an extremely unique race: the Running of the Tubs. This tub race sees participants push bathtubs on wheels through the streets. This simple race quickly becomes a comedic spectacle for all who attend. The race celebrates the city’s spa history and participants often dress the part in bathrobes and slippers. Visitors and Hot Springs residents compete together for first place in this entertaining race with supportive crowds watching along.
Roadkill Cook-Off – Marlinton, West Virginia
The Roadkill Cook-Off of Marlinton, West Virginia is more than a cooking competition. It is a part of Appalachian culture. Held each September, chefs take wild game and roadkill and cook them into creative culinary dishes. It’s part of the town’s Autumn Harvest Festival. Tourists enjoy tasting all the unusual food while reveling in the festivities. The contest is part skill, part community celebration.
Testicle Festival – Clinton, Montana
You might not know this, but Montana used to have a festival dedicated to deep fried bull testicles. The Testicle Festival was held annually in Clinton at the Rock Creek Lodge from 1982 through 2018. Apart from the daring main course the event offered music along with games and competitions. While safety concerns ultimately shuttered the festival, it lives on in a weird way as one of Montana’s most outlandish events.
Mosquito Calling Contest – Clute, Texas
Say you hate mosquitoes. If so, you’ll probably love the Texas city of Clute when you visit it in July. That’s when the Great Texas Mosquito Festival goes down, with a Mosquito Calling Contest and 26-foot-tall mosquito mascot Willie-Man-Chew among the attractions. Live music, carnival rides, cook-offs, and other contests round out the good-natured mosquito celebration.
Husband Calling Contest – Iowa State Fair
Love’s a powerful motivator, but it’s also capable of being pretty darn loud. Just ask the participants in the Husband Calling Contest at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Most contestants are women, but anyone can enter. The point is to call out to your husband with as much volume, enthusiasm and histrionics as you can muster. Judges take into consideration volume, clarity, and how excited the contestant is.
Ugliest Cake Bake-Off – Various locations
The Ugliest Cake Bake-Off is a parody of traditional bake-offs like the ones at the Iowa State Fair. Bakers try to make the ugliest and most outrageous cakes they can. The winner is the person with the most creative and laughable entry. Judges look for the craziest design, while audiences cheer at the colorful, often hilarious results.
Worm Charming Contest – Sopchoppy, Florida
In Sopchoppy, Florida, each year, it seems as if the ground itself springs to life. Since 2000, people there have used wooden stakes and metal rods to coax worms to the surface in a charming competition that is known as worm grunting or worm charming. The event, which has live demonstrations and contests, music, and other family-friendly activities, draws spectators for this fun, unusual spectacle.
Frozen T-Shirt Contest – Nederland, Colorado
If you think it’s easy to put on a t-shirt, try one that’s frozen solid. In Estes Park, Colorado, the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival also hosts the Frozen T-Shirt Contest. Racers strive to remove ice from their shirts and wear them as fast as possible. People stomp, twist, and even use their teeth to loosen the ice. It’s one of many fun and unusual activities at the festival, including coffin races (mentioned before) and polar plunges.
Spunktacular Days – Avon, Minnesota
If you find yourself in Avon, Minnesota, during the month of June, you should attend Spunktacular Days. The festival is a celebration of the town’s history and the lakes in the region, and it is named for the word “spunk”, which was the name for torchwood the first settlers used to start fires. Along with family-friendly activities and music, the event features fun competitions, including races, pie-eating contests, and creative craft challenges. Visitors get a chance to take part in these friendly contests while also enjoying a glimpse into the town’s traditions.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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