Had enough of the same old, dull celebrations you see in your city every year? Do you want something new and extraordinary to help spice up your life? Than you might enjoy checking out our top 10 world’s wackiest festivals, who knows, you might find one to your liking.
10. Moose dropping festival
Where: Talkeetna, Alaska
When: July 14-15
This wacky celebration held in Talkeetna over a period of two days, includes a number of events of which the actual moose dropping tossing is definitely the most entertaining .Numbered moose droppings are raised into the air, in a net, by a helicopter and dropped on a giant bulls-eye. The winners include the closest and farthest from the bulls-eye. If you decide to visit, just make sure you don’t eat the droppings, they may look like delicious milk duds, but try smelling them first. The other events are the One Pitch Softball Tournament, Mountain Mother Contest, a parade and a free music concert.
9. Ivrea orange festival
Where: Ivrea, Italy
When: February 25-28
One of the oldest festivals in Italy, the Ivrea Orange Festival is also undoubtedly one of the tastiest in the world. Inspired by a revolt dating back to the 12th century, against a ruthless count that used to drag young girls, about to be married, to his chambers and deflower them, the festival celebrates the people’s victory and their freedom. People throw tons of juicy oranges at armored teams, symbolizing the count’s guards, traversing the streets in chariots and throwing oranges back at the people. Tourists who have visited Ivrea during the Orange Festival say the sweet smell of squashed oranges is unique.
8. Hadaka Matsuri - The Naked Festival
Where: Saidaiji, Japan
When: February 21st
If you’re like me, you probably thought Japanese are workaholics obsessed with discipline and progress, but you’ll be surprised to learn that they also know how to have fun. A great example is the Hadaka Matsui, a traditional event held every February, on one of the coldest days of the year, when Japanese men in Saidaiji drink large quantities of sake to purify their bodies, strip down to their kudoshi (the famous Japanese loin cloth) and start jumping up and down the streets shouting “Washoi!”, which means “Wonderful!”. Just when their bodies start to adjust to the cold weather, some people wearing insulated jackets, throw ice-cold water on them to purify their bodies even more. The last and most important part of the ritual takes place at the main shrine of the city, at midnight. Two pieces of wood called “shingi” will be dropped from inside the temple and the man who grabs one of them will have good fortune all year long.
7. The Monkey Buffet
Where: Pra Prang Sam Yot temple, Lobturi province, Thailand
When: November 25th
Every year, the people of Thailand bring homage to Rama, a hero of the Ramayana who, is said to have helped his ally Hanuman, the monkey king, with the fiefdom of what is now Lobpuri. The locals prepare a regular feast for the monkeys that live in the vicinity of Pra Prang Sam Yot temple. The feast includes numerous types of fruits and vegetables as well as fruit-flavored blocks of ice for the small primates to lick and canned fizzy drinks. In recent years the festival has become more and more popular at an international level and the authorities go out of their way to satisfy the over 2000 monkeys in the area, which, in turn, entertain the tourists.
6. The Summer Redneck Games
Where: Dublin, Atlanta, USA
When: July 7th
The Summer Redneck Games started back in 1996, when Atlanta was hosting the Olympic Games and everybody was making jokes about a bunch of rednecks hosting such an important event. Mac Davis, the games’ creator decided to play along and together with some volunteers, put up a schedule of redneck games for locals to compete in. They were expecting around 500 people to attend and ended up with 5000. That’s how it all started and now more than 20,000 people attend the festivities every year. Events include the Mudpit Belly Flop, Bobbing for Pigs Feet, Hubcap Hurl, Seed Spitting and everybody’s favorite, the Armpit Serenade. I know it sounds dirty, but it’s all good, clean fun accompanied by all the hot-dogs and hamburgers you can eat. YEE-HAA!!!
5. The Festival of Colors
Where: India, Nepal, Guyana
When: Later part of February or March
Also known as Holi or Phagwa, this Hindu celebration is very popular in countries like India, Nepal and Guyana. The Festival of Colors takes place over two days at the end of February or March. On the first day, large bonfires are lit to burn the demoness Holika, a re-enactment of a Hindu legend and on the second day, the festival really begins, people spend the whole day throwing colored powder and water at each other, in a celebration with medicinal significance. Spring is viewed as a season that brings weather changes, causes viral fever, flews and colds, so the people use medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors to make the powder, which is meant to keep ilnesses away. Significance aside, the Festival of Colors is an amazing event
4. Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Festival
Where: Gloucester, England
When: Last Monday of May
Year after year, Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire hosts one of the world’s wackiest events, The Cheese Rolling Festival. 5 races take place here every year (one for the ladies) and they all have one single purpose, to win a huge piece of Traditional Double Gloucester Cheese. For that competitors have to run down the hill after the piece of cheese has been rolled and cross the finish line first. Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? Well the steep slope makes it impossible to stay on your feet all the way down so injuries are quite common, however they are mostly minor and the contestants always come back to compete next year. There are also uphill races for boys under 12 and for girls and after all the races are over, sweets are scattered all-over the hill and kids hurl to gather them, it’s a whole lot of fun!
3. La Tomatina
Where: Bunol, Spain
When: Every year on the last Wednesday of August
Can you say FOOD FIGHT?!? That’s exactly what La Tomatina is basically, tens of thousands of people from all across the world throwing over one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes at each other. It’s all supposed to begin when somebody manages to climb a two-story greased pole and reach a huge piece of ham, but since that takes forever, the battle starts anyway. During one hour it’s every man for himself, everybody throws oranges at everybody and if you’re wearing a shirt don’t be surprised if anyone bluntly tears it off you, even if you are a woman. Once the “power-hour” is over fire trucks step in and spray the streets of tomatoes, while the brawlers go to the Bunol River to wash themselves. If some visitors happen to still be on the city streets, the locals are happy to hose them clean. La Tomatina also helps keep the streets clean due to the acidc effects of the tomatoes.
2. The Phalic Festival
Where: Kawasaki, Japan
When: First Sunday in April
Just like the Japanese like to import elements of Western culture, they also attract many foreigners through their traditions. More and more Americans and Europeans attend the Japanese Fertility Festival every year, because they find the people here very open, not at all ashamed of their sexuality. People here are allowed to do things they would be arrested for in cities like Paris or London. The phallus is the main theme of the festival and it can be observed everywhere, in decorations, candy, illustrations, carved vegetables. Those who attend the ceremony aren’t ashamed to have their picture taken while mounting a huge wooden penis, or enjoying a phallus shaped lollypop, it’s all about getting into the atmosphere and leaving shame and prejudice at the door. The Phallic Festival grants participants protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
1. The Running of the Bulls
Where: Pamplona, Spain
When: July 7-14
It is the most popular event in the Fiesta of San Fermin, held in Pamplona, it is the main reason why “La Fiesta” is famous all across the globe. It’s not very complicated but the adrenalin rush hits critical levels here. Men dressed in white and wearing red waistbands and handkerchiefs run in front of the bulls as soon as they are released from their pens and try to lead them in the bull-ring. Of course bulls will try to attack them because of the red handkerchief so they have to be very careful. The course is 830 meters long and the challenge is over in two-three minutes, but if there are complications (and there often are) and the bulls stray, it can take a lot longer. You don’t need to register to take part in the bull run, just be present, choose a street where you’ll run and watch out for the horns. The Running of the Bulls is as dangerous as it is fun, 15 people have been killed since 1910, the latest in 2003, but most of these runners are pretty experienced and bull herders are always present to prevent accidents.
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HotelClub Travel Blog is where the weird, the wacky and the wonderful world of travel comes together. You will find posts on green/environmentally friendly travel ideas, interesting and obscure destinations and hotels as well as posts about the cultural side of travel. We also feature 
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great post! there is also a Turkey Testical Festival somewhere in Illinois….. where they eat them.
The redneck games are actually in Dublin, Georgia, USA.
Atlanta is nowhere near Dublin, neither in location or attitude…
that guy at the moose festival is cheating his ass off
leaning like a mofo
i hope he didnt win anything
Bulls are colourblind, they do react to movement though hence the run.
La Tomatina in Spain and The Phalic Festival in Japn look like fun to me ..but the last one The Running of the Bulls is crazy. It’s very dangerous. It’s like you risk you life for nothing except running away from the bulls.
I was at the 2009 La Tamatina. Lots of fun, except when the trucks went by we were squished (like a tomato). Streets are very narrow. The towns people all help in spraying you off after the one hour fight, so you can get back on the trains.