UPFRONT/GO
Festivals for the Rest of Us
Skip the standard music fest or art fair. For a unique experience, make your way to one of these wild events
UFO FESTIVAL
Roswell, New Mexico June 30–July 2 ufofestival.com
Founded: 1995
Legend has it that an alien craft crashed in this community in 1947, and so it has been dubbed the UFO Capital of the World. Enjoy laser shows, sci-fi movies, a night SkyWatch and talks by UFOlogists. Dress up for the costume contest.
WISCONSIN STATE COW CHIP THROW
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin September 1–2 wiscowchip.com
Founded: 1975
The event features a craft fair, a parade with bovine floats and the Cow Chip Throw, in which contestants hurl dried pieces of dung.
AVON HERITAGE DUCK TAPE FESTIVAL
Avon, Ohio, June 15–17 duckbrand.com/duck-tape-festival
Founded: 2004
Stick around for this extravaganza that showcases duct tape in various forms: sculptures, crafts, fashions, parade floats and more. This community is the home of the Duck brand of tape and the self-proclaimed Duct Tape Capital of the World.
OZ-STRAVAGANZA
Chittenango, New York June 2–4 oz-stravaganza.com
Founded: 1978
Follow the yellow brick road to the birthplace of author L. Frank Baum to see landmarks from his life and memorabilia in the All Things Oz Museum. This is the longest-running Wizard of Oz festival.
HUMONGOUS FUNGUS FEST
Crystal Falls, Michigan, August 25–26 facebook.com/
humongousfungusfest
Founded: 1992
One of the world’s oldest living organisms (dating back to B.C.!) is a 440-ton honey mushroom that sprawls over 173 acres. Events include a mushroom forage and cook-off. —Veronica Stoddart