Pumpkin chucking, roadkill cuisine, and underwater carving—these are just a few quirky highlights from some of America’s most offbeat fall festivals. If you want to embrace the weird and wonderful this season, these events should definitely be on your autumn bucket list!
Woolly Worm Festival
Every third weekend in October, the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, North Carolina, predicts the upcoming winter weather with… worm races! According to local lore, the 13 bands on a woolly bear caterpillar represent the 13 weeks of winter. Over 2,000 worms compete in a series of races for the ultimate title—the winning worm forecasts the winter season (and earns its owner a $1,000 prize!). In between races, enjoy local food, crafts, and live entertainment from over 170 vendors.
Roadkill Cook-Off
Squirrel stew or turtle soup, anyone? At the Roadkill Cook-Off in Marlinton, West Virginia, dishes featuring animals found on the side of the road take center stage—don’t worry, none of the ingredients were actually scraped off the asphalt! Competing chefs prepare unusual fare like stewed black bear mixed with chili, quail meatballs, and squirrel gravy over biscuits, all vying for the top prize. Once you’ve had your fill of exotic eats, listen to live performances with square dancing, browse through the farmers market, or try your hand at horseshoe pitching.
Punkin Chunkin Festival
If you’ve never seen a pumpkin fly, the Punkin Chunkin Festival in Clay County, North Carolina, is your best chance! At the main event, watch the champion Pumpkin Chunkers use air cannons, catapults, and trebuchets to launch pumpkins thousands of feet in the air. The fun doesn’t stop there—there’s also a chili cook-off, live concerts from local artists, family-friendly activities like hayrides and tractor shows, and festival food, including fried Oreos, burgers, and pickled eggs.
Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest
The Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest in Key Largo, Florida, is exactly what it sounds like—scuba divers and snorkelers dive about 25 feet below the surface with their utensils to carve unique pumpkin creations. Their challenge isn’t only about creativity but also about buoyancy. Because pumpkins naturally float to the surface, the divers must keep their moving target from drifting away. From spooky Jack O’ Lanterns to sea creature designs, this quirky contest offers underwater fun for both participants and spectators.
Circleville Pumpkin Show
Circleville, Ohio, is the place to be if you’re obsessed with all things pumpkin. The Circleville Pumpkin Show boasts every pumpkin treat imaginable—pumpkin ice cream, pizza, donuts, and even pumpkin burgers! Don’t miss the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In; the largest pumpkin at this event came in at a whopping 1,964 pounds! Snap a photo of the world’s largest pumpkin pie while you’re at it (it’s so big it has its own tent). With plenty of carnival rides, parades, and pumpkin-flavored everything, this festival will get you in the fall spirit.
Salem Witchcraft & Folklore Fest
Salem Witchcraft & Folklore Fest in Salem, Massachusetts, is a celebration of all things witchy. This weekend includes over 25 workshops, rituals, and classes on witchcraft and folklore. Dress in your best Halloween costume for the Black Cat Cabaret, where burlesque performers and drag queens promise a night of dancing, cocktails, and magical revelry. Browse through a curated selection of magical gifts at the witch’s market, also known as Mercato Delle Streghe, and end the weekend with a mystical brunch at the historic Hawthorn Hotel.
World Chicken Festival
Chicken fans, rejoice! The World Chicken Festival in Laurel County, Kentucky, is all about fried chicken, honoring Colonel Sanders’ regional roots – he opened his first restaurant in this county in the 1940s. Feast on chicken cooked in the “World’s Largest Skillet,” a massive 10-foot-wide frying pan that can cook up to 600 chicken quarters at a time! Between bites, hop on family-friendly carnival rides, attend an impressive concert line-up from artists like Uncle Kracker, and compete in the Chicken Trickin’ Trivia contest if you’re feeling competitive.
