The World’s Weirdest and Most Bizarre Festivals
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Most festivals celebrate the big, important things that countries and cultures value. But some places simply like to throw a good party and will make any excuse to start up the fireworks.
We love this enthusiasm and applaud the idea of celebrating even the smallest of things. After all, why not bring more whimsy to the world?
Here, we compiled a list of weird and random festivals around the world. Some seem like the product of utter boredom, while others are the product of centuries-old superstition. We wouldn’t necessarily attend all of them, but these bizarre festivals are all definitely worth knowing about. Because, why not?
15. Florida Underwater Music Festival
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Location: Big Pine Key, Florida
Date of celebration: July
Type of festival: Music
What Makes the Underwater Music Festival Unique
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The magnificent reefs off the coast of Florida have been rapidly deteriorating for decades. At the sight of this tragedy, one Floridian decided to do something about it in 1984. To raise awareness, he began the colorful tradition of hosting a concert completely underneath the surface of the ocean.
The underwater concert happens in the middle of the reef. Underwater speakers blast a playlist, as musicians in scuba diving gear pretend to play fake instruments. Bands and solo artists showcase their skills for onlookers, diving or snorkeling, to enthusiastically enjoy the performance. Songs are appropriately water-themed.
Must-bring item: Snorkeling gear to enjoy the concert from the water ($33.95)
14. International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship
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Location: Eau Claire, Michigan
Date of celebration: July
Type of festival: Food
What Makes the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship Unique
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Sometimes life in small towns can be, erm, not as exciting as one would hope. This seems to be what happened in Eau Claire, where locals apparently spend a lot of time spitting out cherry pits.
This pastime is so popular that it has become a semi-official sport in the town, with an annual festival dedicated entirely to it. Contestants compete to see who spits the cherry the farthest, vying to earn the coveted cherry pit-spitter title. We think this is one festival we’d probably skip.
Must-bring item: Sunblock to protect you from the bright summer sun ($9.50)
13. Wilhelmina Ice Pole Sitting Contest
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Location: Wilhelmina, Sweden
Date of celebration: Second weekend in February
Type of festival: Winter
What Makes the Ice Pole Sitting Contest Unique
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The city of Wilhelmina throws an annual Winter Weekend full of winter competitions and activities. The most notable of these is the Ice Pole Sitting Contest, which is exactly what it sounds like. Competitors go up an ice pole and sit on it.
While it sounds simple, most people simply can’t make it through sitting in the bitter cold, with temperatures well below freezing and only a few 10-minute breaks in between. Those with the grit to stay in their seats win the admiration of the town.
Must-bring item: Portable hand warmer to fend off the brutal cold ($32.99)
12. World Grits Festival
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Location: Saint George, South Carolina
Date of celebration: April
Type of festival: Food
What Makes the World Grits Festival Unique
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There are few things people in the South love more than their grits. We don’t blame them, grits can be delicious. But we may never love them as much as the people in Saint George.
This small town claims to eat more grits than anyone else — where they got this information is not clear — and celebrates that by throwing an annual World Grits Festival. Though a festival in honor of food is not weird, there is one event that gets the celebration on this list: the Rolling Grits Contest.
In it, contestants have 10 seconds to roll around in a giant tub of grits and try to gather as much of them within their clothes as possible. Hoodies, sweatpants and duct tape are commonly used.
Must-bring item: A hoodie that can hold lots of grits ($25.50)
11. Totnes Orange Races
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Location: Totnes, England
Date of celebration: August
Type of festival: Historical, sport
What Makes the Totnes Orange Races Unique
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Remember how we said people in small towns can get bored? This also seems to be the case for the good people of Totnes. Some 400 years ago, a man in the town bumped into an orange cart. The delivery boy in charge of selling them ran after the oranges that rolled down the hill.
While this exact thing must’ve happened in every town in the world, it certainly made an impression in Totnes because the mundane event is still commemorated annually with an orange race. Perhaps something more interesting has yet to happen here.
People roll their oranges down the same street that the delivery boy ran down and then chase them, pushing or kicking them to the finish line. As a reward, they get to know that their orange is faster than others.
Must-bring item: Binoculars so you don’t miss the action ($21.99)
10. Emma Crawford Coffin Race
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Location: Manitou Springs, Colorado
Date of celebration: Last Saturday of October
Type of festival: Historical, sport
What Makes the Emma Crawford Coffin Race Unique
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This is perhaps one of the festivals on here with the most interesting history. In the late 1800s, a woman named Emma Crawford died of tuberculosis and was buried at the top of a hill, per her dying wishes. When the railroad was constructed, her grave was moved south of the mountain until a storm unearthed her coffin and caused it to roll down said hill.
Now, the town of Manitou Springs holds a yearly race in her honor. Teams consisting of four coffin bearers and an Emma laying in the coffin race to the top of the hill. The first team that brings Emma to her rightful resting place, wins. Though bizarre, we admire the sentiment. The race also looks pretty fun.
Must-bring item: Skeleton face makeup to join in the fun ($19.86)
9. Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake
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Location: Cooper’s Hill, England
Date of celebration: Last Monday of May
Type of festival: Sport
What Makes Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake Unique
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Apparently, English people really like chasing food down hills. This time, the race consists of chasing a large block of Double Gloucester cheese, which is sent rolling down a hill. Whoever catches up to the cheese first, wins it.
We have to admit that this actually sounds like a lot of very random fun, but people tend to end up rolling down the hill and getting injured. For this reason, the local government stopped organizing the festival. But that hasn’t stopped townspeople from holding it informally since 2010.
Must-bring item: Running shoes to get ahead in the race ($125)
8. Wassailing
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Location: Throughout England
Date of celebration: Jan. 5
Type of festival: Religious
What Makes Wassailing Unique
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The English tradition of wassailing dates back to about 500 years ago, and we think it’s beautiful. The idea is to go to apple orchards dressed in costume and sing to apple trees in the middle of winter. This was thought to ward off spirits and ensure a good harvest.
People nowadays don’t necessarily think wassailing will bring them a good harvest, but the tradition has been kept alive. It is usually done on the 12th night after Christmas, Jan. 5, and involves decorating the trees and passing around some delicious homemade cider as you sing.
Must-bring item: A trusty cup you can fill with cider ($15.00)
7. Egg Throwing World Championships
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Location: Swaton, England
Date of celebration: End of June
Type of festival: Food, sport
What Makes the Egg Throwing World Championships Unique
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Again, English people have a thing for random food festivals. This time, however, they aren’t chasing food but, instead, throwing it. At the Egg Throwing World Championships, people remember the fact that, in the 1300s, a flood kept parishioners from coming to the town church. Since the monks were in the custom of giving out eggs to church goers, they threw the eggs at them over the flooded river. (We’re telling you, English people will grab onto anything to throw a party.)
The championships consist of different egg-related events, including egg throwing at long distances, an egg relay and a Russian egg roulette. For the latter, contestants choose eggs and crack them over their head, hoping they are hard boiled rather than raw.
Must-bring item: A microfiber towel to clean yourself up ($8.99)
6. Moulton Crow Fair
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Location: Moulton, England
Date of celebration: July
Type of festival: Harvest
What Makes the Moulton Crow Fair Unique
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Rumor has it that in the 1920s, a group of men was laid off from the salt mines in the area. They decided the best way to make money would be to make people pay to see them dance like crows.
Something must’ve worked from their plan because it has now become a yearly tradition in which a group of men put on crow costumes and dance around a live scarecrow. In the middle of the dance, a farmer appears and shoots some of the birds, while the remaining crows continue to steal crops. At the end, the scarecrow comes to life and shoos them away.
Whatever works to keep you entertained, we guess.
Must-bring item: Farm boots to fit in ($45.00)
5. Madam Lou Bunch Day
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Location: Central City, Colorado
Date of celebration: August
Type of festival: Historical
What Makes Madam Lou Bunch Day Unique
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Historically, madams (a euphemism for women who ran brothels) were not generally celebrated. But to the residents of Central City, Madam Louisa Bunch is a local hero.
During the tuberculosis epidemic, the madam turned her brothel into a hospital for those afflicted with the deadly disease. The people of the town have never forgotten her heroic actions and have made an entire holiday just for her.
To celebrate her memory, the town throws several events, the most fun of which is the Bed Race. Costumed teams of three race wheeled beds across the town’s Main Street, competing to be the fastest as well as the best-costumed team.
Must-bring item: A small umbrella for the rainy August days ($14.99)
4. Jarramplas
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Location: Piornal, Spain
Date of celebration: Jan. 19-20
Type of festival: Historical
What Makes Jarramplas Unique
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It’s hard to explain Jarramplas. First of all, nobody really knows where the tradition comes from, not even the people of Piornal, where it is celebrated.
The gist of the celebration is to have someone dressed as a colorful demon arrive at the town and terrorize it. To defend themselves, the people in town throw turnips at the invader for an hour, driving them away.
The festival actually sounds really fun and interesting. While we feel a bit bad for the person who has to take a turnip-beating, it is said that taking this role earns you social status and favor in town.
Must-bring item: Winter gloves so you don’t freeze while throwing turnips ($8.99)
3. El Colacho
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Location: Castrillo de Murcia, Spain
Date of celebration: Feast of Corpus Christi (June)
Type of festival: Religious
What Makes El Colacho Unique
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Would you ever let a grown man dressed up as a devil jump over your baby?
As strange as it sounds, this is what new parents do in the town of Castrillo de Murcia. During the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is usually celebrated mid-June, parents lay their babies out in the streets on mattresses. Then, men in devil costumes run through the streets and jump over the children.
The idea is that this somehow cleanses them of the original sin — a kind of bizarre baptism if you will. Though interesting, we don’t think we could handle the stress of watching this festival and thinking someone is going to trip.
Must-bring item: Selfie stick to be able to take pictures over the crowds ($14.99)
2. Wasteland Weekend
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Location: Edwards, California
Date of celebration: Late September
Type of festival: Post-Apocalyptic
What Makes Wasteland Unique
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Post-apocalyptic movies are supposed to make you scared of the collapse of civilization. But some people watch films like “Mad Max” and think the post-apocalyptic world is actually pretty awesome.
Wasteland Weekend is for these kinds of people, who come to the Mojave Desert doned in end-of-the-world costumes and race cars that could’ve easily come out of the cult classic (or the remake). There are limited rules and no planned events, so whatever happens each year depends entirely on the attendants. Usually, you can expect to see cool cars, fire spinning and burlesque shows.
Must-bring item: A solar battery so you can charge your phone in the middle of the desert ($18.99)
1. Hungry Ghost Festival
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Location: Throughout China
Date of celebration: Fifteenth night of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar (typically August)
Type of festival: Spiritual
What Makes the Hungry Ghost Festival Unique
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In many regions of China, there is a belief that people who were greedy in life are insatiable as ghosts. To appease them, the living must burn paper effigies of material goods like food and beer but also fake money, TVs and the latest cellphone.
The festival is part of the country’s cultural heritage and has been celebrated for hundreds of years.
Must-bring item: Play money to burn ($9.99)