America is home to the weird and the unusual. Each year, towns across the country hold some unique festivals. From hollerin’ to Duct Tape, there is an event that your local Tourme guide can help make into a memorable experience.
The National Hollerin’ Contest
The National Hollerin’ Contest was first held in 1969. The annual event brings visitors from all over the country to Spivey’s Corner, North Carolina. The art of hollering has a long history in the North Carolina area. Individuals would “holler” to each other over long distances. This form of communication delivered messages to rural neighbors long before the invention of the telephone. The festival is held on the second Saturday in September. Contestants are judged in four categories of hollering. Along with the competition, visitors can enjoy live music, a parade, and some local food fare.
Frozen Dead Guy Days
The town of Netherland, Colorado hosts Frozen Dead Guy Days in March. The inaugural festival began in 2002. This event celebrates the discovery of Bredo Morstoel’s frozen corpse. Poor dead Bredo was brought to the United States in 1989. His grandson and daughter had hoped to open a cryogenic facility. The only problem was they were short on money. His frozen body was left in a shed on the property. When the daughter was evicted, his remains were discovered by local officials. Town locals decided to leave Bredo in the shed with a few upgrades. Every March, hundreds come out to honor Bredo. There is plenty of music and food to enjoy. Festivities include a parade, a coffin race, and a polar plunge.
D.B. Cooper Days
Ariel, Washington celebrates D.B. Cooper’s infamous mid-air plane escape. Cooper left the plane with over $200,000 in cash. There is still a debate about whether he survived the jump. If he did land, Ariel is the assumed location. The local residents have been celebrating his daring escape since 2011. The first Saturday after Thanksgiving, locals come out for food and fun. Special events during the festival include a D.B Cooper lookalike contest and a parachute signing.
Duct Tape Festival
Avon, Ohio considers itself the home of the famous Duct Tape. Each Father’s Day weekend, residents and visitors celebrate the durable home improvement product. The event pays homage to Duct Tape, its fans, and the most unique uses for the sticky stuff. Fans are asked to show off their wearable Duct Tape creations in the fashion show. There is also a parade, craft fair, kiddie rides, and entertainment that round out the weekend celebration.
UFO Festival
Roswell, New Mexico landed itself into the pages of history in 1947. That year, an unidentified object crashed into the desert town. Roswell has proclaimed itself the “UFO Capital of the World.” The town hosts an annual event on the first weekend in July. The festival is a gathering spot for alien and UFO enthusiasts. There are panel discussions and speeches with prominent UFO experts. The festival also has many family-friendly options such as a parade, music, and food. The popular event attracts over 30,000 people each year.
Whatever holds your interest, there is an event for you. The United States is home to some very unusual festivals. So pack your bags and celebrate some of the wackiest events with a local guide from Tourme.