Fall is embracing its quirky side, and we’re here for it: Discover the Cool and Unconventional Fall Festivals

Fall is upon us, and with it comes a cornucopia of eccentric festivals that celebrate the strange, the silly, and the downright delicious! From sheep parades to pumpkin launches, get ready to dive into a season of amusing antics, food, and festivities that redefine the American way of enjoying life—mixing foolishness with a side of fun!

World Chicken Festival

Date: September 26–29

Location: London, Kentucky

Celebrate the legacy of Kentucky Fried Chicken with impersonator competitions and the world’s largest stainless steel skillet. Because who wouldn’t want to fry their chicken in style?

World's Largest Grape Stomp

Date: September 28–29

Location: Sonoma County, California

Join the fun as participants stomp grapes barefoot in giant barrels, followed by wine tasting, food vendors, and live music. It’s a juicy celebration!

Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Date: October 2–6

Location: Sun Valley, Idaho

Watch 1,500 sheep parade through town and enjoy sheepdog trials, storytelling, and farm-to-table dinners. It’s a woolly good time!

FireAnt Festival

Date: October 12

Location: Marshall, Texas

Experience lively festivities featuring fire ant mascots, a parade, a Diaper Derby, and unique contests, including the highly anticipated fire ant calling competition. Yes, you read that right!

North American Wife Carrying Championship

Date: October 12

Location: Newry, Maine

Couples compete in this quirky contest navigating an obstacle course while carrying their wives in various styles. The prize? Bragging rights and rewards based on the wife's weight.

Great American Cornhole League World Championship

Date: October 18-20

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Celebrate the beloved backyard game of cornhole with professional players and a festival atmosphere filled with food, music, and fun activities. Let the games begin!

Bridge Day

Date: October 19

Location: Fayetteville, West Virginia

Watch BASE jumpers leap off the New River Gorge Bridge during one of the largest extreme sports events. It’s exhilarating—if you can handle the heights!

Texas Bigfoot Conference

Date: October 18–19

Location: Jefferson, Texas

Dive into the world of Bigfoot with talks, dinners, and fun activities in the town that proudly claims the title of "The Bigfoot Capital of Texas." Who knows, you might just spot the elusive creature!

Punkin Chunkin

Date: October 19

Location: Clayton, New York

Witness the art of pumpkin launching as participants catapult their creations in this spirited festival filled with live music and local vendors. Get ready for some flying gourds!

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Date: October 20

Location: Tualatin, Oregon

Watch competitors race in giant hollowed-out pumpkins on the lake. Yes, racing in pumpkins is a thing—and it’s as fun as it sounds!

Woolly Worm Festival

Date: October 19–20

Location: Banner Elk, North Carolina

Celebrate the woolly worm with races, vendors, and a unique weather forecast based on the worm's color. It’s a hairy way to predict winter!

Sea Witch Festival

Date: October 25–27

Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Join the maritime spirit with a pet-friendly costume parade and haunted bonfire. Who says witches don’t love a good beach bonfire?

The Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival

Date: October 26

Location: Manitou Springs, Colorado

Witness teams race in coffins during this Halloween-themed festival. It’s a spooky celebration with a unique twist!

Tarantula Awareness Festival

Date: October 30

Location: Coarsegold, California

Celebrate spider season with pumpkin cheesecake contests, a costume parade, and even a hairy leg contest for humans—because why not?

PA Bacon Fest

Date: November 2–3

Location: Easton, Pennsylvania

Indulge your love for bacon with musical performances and creative bacon dishes. If you’ve ever wanted to celebrate bacon, now’s your chance!

World Championship Duck Calling Contest

Date: November 2-3

Location: Stuttgart, Arkansas

Celebrate duck hunting culture with this unique contest featuring duck calling competitions, music, and various vendors. It’s a quacky good time!

Mushroom Festival

Date: October 12-13

Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Home to the largest mushroom farms in the U.S., this festival celebrates all things fungi with tastings, cooking demonstrations, a mushroom hunt, and unique contests.

Witch’s Night Out

Date: October 12

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

This whimsical event invites attendees to dress up as witches and enjoy a night filled with fun activities like live music, food vendors, and themed contests throughout downtown.

National Pumpkin Chunkin' Championship

Date: Late October (check for specific dates)

Location: Bridgeville, Delaware

Watch teams launch pumpkins using homemade catapults, trebuchets, and other contraptions. It’s a fun and messy way to celebrate the season!

So, whether you’re in the mood for sheep parades, pumpkin launches, or maybe just some good old-fashioned bacon, there’s no shortage of quirky festivities to fill your fall calendar. Grab your friends and family and get ready for a season of delightful oddities!