13 Bizarre Festivals Only These American Towns Celebrate (One Includes Coffins)

I’ve always believed the best part of traveling across the U.S. isn’t just the landscapes — it’s the downright weird stuff you stumble into.

I once rolled into a town in Colorado, expecting a quiet weekend, and ended up watching a bunch of people racing through the streets with coffins. Yes, actual coffins.

That’s when I realized — some American towns don’t just throw festivals. They go all-in on traditions that are quirky, creepy, or just hilariously random.

These aren’t your standard food truck and fireworks events. These are the kind of festivals where you’ll question reality, then immediately pull out your phone to record it.

If you’re the kind of traveler who loves the strange and unforgettable, then this list of bizarre American festivals is going to blow your mind.

1. Frozen Dead Guy Days — Nederland, Colorado

Let’s start with the one I mentioned — yes, coffins.

Every March, the town of Nederland celebrates a frozen corpse stored in a Tuff Shed.

Locals race with coffins, compete in frozen turkey bowling, and hold a costumed polar plunge.

It’s a weird tribute to a Norwegian man cryogenically frozen in a backyard. And yes, it’s as insane as it sounds.

2. Roadkill Cook-Off — Marlinton, West Virginia

Here, they don’t just eat wild game. They celebrate it.

Chefs compete to create gourmet dishes using roadkill (yes — squirrel, raccoon, you name it).

And the best part? Visitors get to sample it all. Bring your appetite and your strongest stomach.

3. Testicle Festival — Clinton, Montana

You know a festival is going to be wild when it’s dedicated to deep-fried bull testicles.

Montana’s Testicle Festival — or “Testy Festy” as locals call it — is part cookout, part rowdy party.

Between the eating contests and the mechanical bull, it’s not for the shy. I passed on the plate… but only barely.

4. The Great Texas Mosquito Festival — Clute, Texas

Every summer, Clute celebrates the state’s most annoying insect with a three-day bash.

There’s live music, a mosquito-calling contest, and even a giant mascot named “Willie the Mosquito.”

You’ll leave with bites and belly laughs. Hopefully not in that order.

5. National Hollerin’ Contest — Spivey’s Corner, North Carolina

Before cell phones, folks in rural America used “hollerin’” to communicate across long distances.

This festival keeps the tradition alive with people showing off their loudest, weirdest yells on stage.

It’s part comedy, part history, and all chaos.

6. The Mooning of Amtrak — Laguna Niguel, California

One day a year, people line up along a fence by the train tracks and… drop their pants to moon passing trains.

It started in the 1970s as a dare and turned into a full-blown event.

Thousands show up — some moon, some just drink and watch. Either way, it’s a cheeky good time.

7. The Toad Suck Daze — Conway, Arkansas

Don’t let the name fool you — no one’s actually sucking toads.

It’s a family-friendly festival with music, food, and the legendary toad races.

Locals dress up their toads and cheer them on like racehorses. It’s adorable and just a bit absurd.

8. Bessemer Croquet Festival — Bessemer, Michigan

This isn’t your grandma’s croquet match.

People wear formal white outfits with outrageous accessories — think top hats and rubber chickens — and compete in teams.

It’s part sport, part costume party, and all small-town charm.

9. Gilroy Garlic Festival — Gilroy, California

Okay, garlic’s not bizarre — but celebrating it like it’s Beyoncé? That’s a little different.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival has garlic ice cream, garlic beer, and garlic everything.

You’ll leave smelling like a vampire’s worst nightmare. Worth it.

10. Humungus Fungus Fest — Crystal Falls, Michigan

Yes, they’re honoring a giant mushroom.

Back in the ’80s, scientists discovered one of the world’s largest living organisms — a 37-acre mushroom — growing right under this town.

They’ve celebrated it ever since, with fungi-themed games, mushroom pizza, and weird trivia.

11. The Outhouse Races — Anchorage, Alaska

Alaskans build outhouses on skis and race them down snowy streets.

Teams dress up, name their mobile toilets, and barrel toward the finish line with pure winter energy.

I swear it’s one of the strangest and funniest events I’ve ever witnessed.

12. Duct Tape Festival — Avon, Ohio

This small Ohio town celebrates one of humanity’s greatest inventions — duct tape.

There’s a parade of duct tape floats, fashion shows with duct tape outfits, and even duct tape sculptures.

It’s weirdly wholesome and impressively crafty.

13. BugFest — Raleigh, North Carolina

Most people avoid bugs. Raleigh celebrates them.

At BugFest, thousands of families come to see — and sometimes eat — insects.

There are cockroach races, tarantula exhibits, and even cricket cookies.

It’s the only time I’ve ever willingly held a hissing cockroach.

Final Thoughts

These festivals might sound bizarre — and they are — but that’s what makes them unforgettable.

They celebrate history, quirks, and small-town spirit in the most creative (and sometimes gross) ways possible.

And honestly? I’d rather attend a coffin race or hollerin’ contest than another cookie-cutter event any day.

Because the weirder the festival, the better the story.