The US is known for its massive music festivals and star-studded events, but what about the oddball side of things? Across the States, people gather to celebrate the strangest traditions you can imagine, from alien encounters to underwater music festivals. If you’re looking for something a little more outlandish on your next trip, here are the weirdest festivals in the US that’ll have you thinking, “WTF?”
5 of the Weirdest Festivals in the US
1. Roswell UFO Festival, New Mexico
First up on our list of strange happenings is the Roswell UFO Festival in New Mexico. Every July, this small desert town transforms into a hotspot for alien enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike. Why? Because Roswell is famous for a supposed UFO crash in 1947, sparking endless speculation about extraterrestrial visitors.
The festival is packed with everything from costume contests (expect lots of tinfoil hats) to alien-themed parades and UFO lectures. If you’ve ever wondered what a close encounter looks like, this is your chance to meet some true believers – or at least snap a selfie with someone dressed as a Martian. You’ll be surrounded by “proof” of extra-terrestrial life, or at least people having a good laugh over it!
2. Underwater Music Festival, Florida
Think a music festival is weird? How about one that’s entirely underwater? In Florida’s Looe Key Reef, the annual Underwater Music Festival is an event like no other. Taking place every July, divers and snorkellers descend beneath the waves to listen to music broadcast underwater via speakers.
Participants swim around in colourful costumes, pretending to play sea-themed instruments like “saxophones” made from coral replicas. It’s all done to raise awareness about marine conservation, but the real highlight is the sight of people rocking out to The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” while surrounded by actual fish. WTF? More like, why not?!
3. Frozen Dead Guy Days, Colorado
Some festivals celebrate life, others celebrate… well, death. Welcome to Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado, where an entire weekend is dedicated to a cryogenically frozen man named Bredo Morstoel. Yes, you read that right – there’s a frozen dead guy in town, and the locals decided to make it an annual party.
Held every March, the festival features coffin races, a polar plunge and plenty of live music and costume contests. The real star of the show, though, is Grandpa Bredo himself – or at least his story. Legend has it, his body was frozen after his death and kept in a shed in Nederland, and now, the town throws a massive party in his honour. If that doesn’t make you say “WTF,” nothing will.
4. Woolly Worm Festival, North Carolina
Yes, you read that right – there’s an entire festival dedicated to the woolly worm, a fuzzy caterpillar that supposedly predicts the upcoming winter weather. The Woolly Worm Festival, held every October in Banner Elk, North Carolina, draws thousands of people who gather to see which worm will cross the finish line first in the epic “worm races.”
People bring their champion worms to compete, and the winning woolly worm’s colour bands are used to “forecast” the harshness of the winter ahead. If racing caterpillars doesn’t make you ask “WTF?”, then nothing will. But hey, it’s a fun and quirky way to celebrate an unlikely weather forecaster!
5. Roadkill Cook-Off, West Virginia
Fancy a little roadkill for dinner? In Marlinton, West Virginia, they celebrate the bizarre culinary art of cooking roadkill with the annual Roadkill Cook-Off every September. Think squirrel gravy, possum stew, or raccoon hash. It’s a cook-off like no other, where the stranger the dish, the better!
Though actual roadkill isn’t required (thankfully), chefs are encouraged to get creative with wild game. It’s a festival that might leave you asking “WTF did I just eat?” but for the adventurous foodie, it’s an experience you won’t forget anytime soon.
The US is full of strange and wonderful festivals, each more eccentric than the last. From frozen dead guys through the sky to swimming with mermaids in Florida, these events prove that Americans love to take their hobbies to the next level – and sometimes into the realm of the ridiculous.
If you’re looking for a trip that’s a little less mainstream and a lot more “WTF,” these are the festivals to add to your list. Go on, get weird with it – you’ll leave with some unforgettable stories and probably a few hilarious photos!
