A couple of years ago I ran through a list of some of the tastiest summer food festivals I’d ever had the pleasure of attending. This year I’m going wild. Wild for wacky adventures waiting to be had at some of the nation’s most unique hometown festivals. If you are looking for summer fun that will keep you smiling well into the winter consider heading north, south, east and west to these family friendly festivals:
CALIFORNIA
The Horned Toad Derby in Coalinga, California draws hundreds of thousands of BBQ lovers to town during the second to the last weekend in May. Don’t worry they’re not grilling up the unwanted amphibian; rather the derby is part of a local BBQ festival that features the famous toad run. Crowds gather by the thousands to watch hundreds of unleashed toads rush to cross the finish line. If that doesn’t grab your attention perhaps the other competition featuring firemen pushing a bucket of cement using fire hoses will.
NEW YORK
It’s not exactly a traditional festival, but it’s an eye opening experience nonetheless. After all, it’s not everyday you get to see crowds of “normal” people clad in flashy sea-inspired costumes cheerfully march down Surf Avenue alongside antique cars and colorful floats. Yet it happens annually at the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island. The tradition has been a local favorite for 26 years and takes place again this summer on June 21, 2008.
TEXAS
Texas is known for doing everything BIG. And when it comes to summer festivals the state doesn’t disappoint. In Luling, Texas crowds go wild for the annual Watermelon Thump. The gigantic four-day celebration got its name from the time-tested way to tell if a melon is ripe: thump it with your fingers. If you go don’t be on the lookout for a thumping contest; rather the watermelon festival is known for its annual seed spitting and melon eating competitions. Also, you get to see which lucky local grower will win the prize for largest Black Diamond melon. The festival takes places June 26-29, 2008.
MICHIGAN
Traverse City may host the country’s largest cherry festival, but folks in Eau Claire, Michigan hold the rights to the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship and couldn’t be prouder. Tree-Mendus Fruit, a local family-run cherry-growing business, launched the annual competition in 1974. On July 5, 2008 you can join thousands of others as they gather to see who will beat the current record holder (the current distance for spitters to beat is a jaw-dropping 93 feet 6 ½ inches) and land a place in history.
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