America doesn’t just have festivals. America has weird festivals. This is not a land of tidy rows of food trucks and a lone stage for local bands. Americans can race through cemeteries while their bodies are inside coffins or cook bizarre meats by deep-frying them and even wear giant costume outfits of dolls. These images aren’t in travel brochures, but they’re real. Here are 12 of the strangest festivals in the country.
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Athens Grease Festival – Athens, Alabama
Athens sidewalks crowd quickly during the Grease Festival. Street vendors dish out fried food galore: chicken, candy bars, pickles, whatever you can imagine. A few blocks over, people in DIY togas cheer and chuckle as the parade goes by. It’s all music, activities for kids, and a heaping helping of self-mockery. Locals embrace the “Greek” part of Athens with a wink.
Underwater Music Festival – Florida Keys, Florida
People in the Florida Keys have been diving down to Looe Key Reef to do something very unorthodox: go to an underwater concert. Ever since 1981, snorkelers and scuba divers have been putting on their gear and submerging beneath the waves to listen to music played through underwater speakers. It’s often a costume affair too. It’s playful, a little weird, and it’s also a fun way to raise awareness for coral reefs and ocean life.
Roadkill Cook-Off – Marlinton, West Virginia
At The Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton, West Virginia, as part of the town’s Autumn Harvest Festival, chefs compete to make the best gourmet dishes using ingredients from legally procured roadkill such as squirrel, deer and raccoon. Festival goers can sample snapping turtle stew or squirrel gravy over biscuits and enjoy live music, car shows and interactive demonstrations. The festival embraces rural cooking traditions, sustainability and culinary adventure.
Corgi Beach Day – Huntington Beach, California
Corgi Beach Day in Huntington Beach, California feels more like a huge canine costume party than a planned dog event. At SoCal Corgi Beach Day hundreds of corgis wearing comical costumes gather on the beach for photo sessions and playful races across the sand.
Dog lovers and families pack the beach. Vendors come out to sell goodies and doggy gear. The spontaneous gathering started years ago and has developed into a beloved beach tradition which continues to expand in popularity annually.
Frozen Dead Guy Days– Nederland, Colorado
You could watch coffin races, turkey bowling, and polar plunging all in the name of one man buried in a shed. At Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado, people celebrate Bredo Morstøl since 2002 with music, costume contests, live DJs, local brews, comfort food and pure oddball fun. Since 2023, the festival has moved to Estes Park.
Mothman Festival – Point Pleasant, West Virginia
The Mothman Festival is held every September in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It started in 2002 to celebrate the winged beast that was first sighted there in the 1960s. Guests enjoy lectures about the paranormal, guided trips to the old TNT area, a costume contest and shopping at vendor booths.
In addition to a weekend of fun, the festival is an opportunity to explore local folklore. The Mothman Festival combines entertainment, education, and tourism.
Testicle Festival – Clinton, Montana
Montana has never been one to back away from the bizarre and the Testicle Festival would certainly have proven that. Started in 1982, “Testy Festy” was a festival of Rocky Mountain oysters (bull testicles) that were fried and eaten. Mechanical bulls, live music, and cook-offs were there for visitors to enjoy. After 35 years of fun, adventure and the occasional safety faux pas, the festival shut its doors in 2018.
Grumpy Old Men Festival – Wabasha, Minnesota
Minnesota’s Wabasha celebrates getting old with the Grumpy Old Men Festival. The town holds ice fishing contests, cribbage tournaments, and feisty “grumpy” float parades every February, in homage to the 1993 film.
It’s a fun-loving weekend of hometown pride, riverfront beauty, and knowing how not to take life seriously.
Baby Doll Dance – Chicago, Illinois
The Baby Doll Dance, also held in Chicago and other communities, is a festival of creative expression and performance. Dancers and performers, wearing oversized baby doll costumes, perform choreographed routines and parades.
The event is based on artistry, community involvement, and creative play, captured in shows such as ‘Bring It!’ on Lifetime.
Standin’ on the Corner Festival – Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona is well known for a line in the Eagles’ song “Take It Easy”: “Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.” The city began holding an annual festival in its honor. It features a park with a large mural and a bronze statue of a fellow playing his guitar.
During the festival there is live music, classic cars, and art installations. Fans of the song and Route 66 gather to have fun, take photos, and enjoy a little bit of rock history in this small-town setting.
Possum Festival – Wausau, Florida
Florida’s Possum Festival, hosted by Wausau, is a bit more lighthearted. Every first Saturday in August, the small community holds contests including rooster crowing, hog calling and cow lowing. This down-home festival also includes parades, auctions and live entertainment. The event has been a local favorite for decades.
Duck Tape Festival – Avon, Ohio
The Duck Tape Festival was an annual event held in Avon, Ohio. Celebrating all things duct tape, participants created art, floats, and fashion completely out of tape, as well as taking part in workshops and live performances. It was announced in 2024 that the festival would not return in 2025, ending a 20-year run.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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