20 Quirky Festivals in Small-Town USA That South Dakotans Should Check Out

Some of the best festivals in the U.S. happen where you least expect them.

Small communities know how to throw a celebration packed with personality. Think tractor parades, cherry pit spitting, and hundreds of people dressed as lumberjacks.

So grab your keys and your appetite. These are the festivals around America worth leaving your South Dakota home for.

Chowderfest – Saratoga Springs, New York

Every year, this cozy upstate New York town hosts a chowder competition that brings out restaurants, food trucks, and hungry locals.

Saratoga’s Chowderfest features dozens of spots serving up their best version of the classic soup. For a few dollars, you can sample a variety and vote for your favorites.

Shops stay open late, bands play on street corners, and the town feels more like a block party than a competition.

It’s a hearty, heartwarming festival that draws crowds while still keeping that hometown feel.

Gilroy Garlic Festival – Gilroy, California

This small town in California turns into the garlic capital of the world every summer. The Gilroy Garlic Festival celebrates all things garlic—food, crafts, and community.

You’ll find garlic ice cream, garlic fries, and cooking demos that showcase creative ways to use the pungent ingredient. The air is full of flavor, literally.

There’s live music, a children’s area, and even a garlic-breath contest. Locals love it, and visitors drive in from all over.

It’s a flavorful, family-friendly event that mixes small-town charm with serious culinary fun.

Holland Tulip Time Festival – Holland, Michigan

This charming Midwestern town transforms into a sea of color every spring during Tulip Time. It’s one of the most visually stunning festivals in the country.

Over six million tulips bloom throughout the city, and the celebration includes traditional Dutch dancing, parades, and craft fairs.

People dress in wooden shoes and heritage costumes. It feels like stepping into a European postcard.

It’s a peaceful and picturesque event that highlights the beauty of tradition and the pride of a small community.

National Banana Pudding Festival – Centerville, Tennessee

This Tennessee town takes banana pudding seriously. Each fall, Centerville hosts a festival dedicated to the classic Southern dessert.

Vendors serve up creative takes on banana pudding, from traditional recipes to over-the-top versions with candy, whipped cream, or cookies you’ve never even heard of.

There’s also live music, arts and crafts, and a pudding cook-off judged by locals and visitors alike.

It’s sweet, silly, and one hundred percent Southern charm.

Bridge Day – Fayetteville, West Virginia

Once a year, Fayetteville shuts down the New River Gorge Bridge for one of the most thrilling festivals in the country.

BASE jumpers leap from the bridge into the gorge below while thousands of spectators watch from the rails. It’s adrenaline, scenery, and small-town spirit all in one.

There are food vendors, crafts, and even rappelling demos for folks who prefer to keep their feet on the ground.

It’s a mix of extreme sports and Appalachian pride that draws visitors from far beyond West Virginia.

Tater Day – Benton, Kentucky

Tater Day has been around since the 1800s, and it’s still going strong. What started as a day to trade sweet potatoes has grown into a full-blown town celebration.

There’s a parade, a carnival, a car show, and—of course—plenty of fried potato treats. Locals come out in big numbers, and visitors always feel welcome.

It’s a slice of Americana that hasn’t changed much over the years.

That’s exactly what makes it worth the trip.

Slugburger Festival – Corinth, Mississippi

The name might raise eyebrows, but the Slugburger Festival is pure fun. Corinth celebrates this Depression-era dish—a deep-fried burger made with beef and flour filler—every July.

There’s a burger-eating contest, live bands, and carnival rides all packed into the town square.

Locals wear slugburger shirts like a badge of honor. The whole event feels proud, quirky, and full of community pride.

You may not come for the food, but you’ll stay for the energy.

Burlington Steamboat Days – Burlington, Iowa

Set along the Mississippi River, this weeklong music festival brings big energy to a small town.

Burlington Steamboat Days features nationally known bands alongside local talent. There are fair rides, fried food, and family-friendly fun all week long.

Locals have been coming to this festival for generations. It’s one of those traditions that feels like summer officially started.

And with the river view as the backdrop, it’s a beautiful place to kick back and enjoy the music.

Minnesota Garlic Festival – Hutchinson, Minnesota

This festival might be small, but it packs a punch. Garlic lovers from around the region flock to Hutchinson to sample garlicky treats and support sustainable farming.

There are cooking demos, garlic-themed games, and even a garlic ice cream stand for the brave. It’s a celebration of flavor and community spirit.

Vendors come from across the state, selling crafts, produce, and of course, fresh bulbs of garlic.

It’s earthy, a little weird, and totally worth the drive.

Mountain Mushroom Festival – Irvine, Kentucky

In the hills of Kentucky, Irvine celebrates morel mushrooms with a festival that’s equal parts local pride and culinary fun.

Visitors can sample mushroom dishes, join cooking contests, and shop for mushroom-themed crafts. There’s even a scavenger hunt and educational booths about foraging.

The community rolls out the red carpet, welcoming mushroom fans from all over.

It’s a small event with big heart, and it smells incredible, too.

Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival – Tifton, Georgia

If you love live music and barbecue, this Georgia festival should be on your list. Tifton’s Rhythm & Ribs event brings together pitmasters and performers for a full day of southern fun.

You’ll smell the smoker before you even park. Local teams compete for bragging rights, and hungry visitors get to taste the results.

Live bands play everything from bluegrass to rock. The whole event feels like a big backyard party.

It’s the kind of festival where strangers talk like neighbors.

Pumpkin Show – Circleville, Ohio

Known as “The Greatest Free Show on Earth,” this pumpkin-themed festival is a fall favorite for thousands of families.

Circleville goes all out with pumpkin everything—parades, pie-eating contests, and pumpkin displays the size of small cars.

Local schools, churches, and clubs participate, making it a true community event. There’s something happening on every corner.

If you love autumn, this festival is a road trip must.

Frozen Dead Guy Days – Nederland, Colorado

Yes, it’s real. This eccentric festival honors a cryogenically frozen man stored in a shed, and somehow, it works.

Nederland leans into the weird with coffin races, frozen turkey bowling, and hearse parades. It’s odd, but that’s the point.

What started as a quirky local event has become a national draw, with visitors showing up in costume and ready to celebrate the unusual.

It’s one of the most unforgettable festivals you’ll ever attend.

Elvis Festival – Tupelo, Mississippi

Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, throws a birthday celebration each June that draws fans from around the world.

The Elvis Festival features tribute performances, themed parades, and memorabilia galore. Local shops decorate their windows, and music fills the streets all weekend long.

There are lookalike contests, reenactments of key moments in Elvis’s early life, and nonstop energy from people who really love The King.

It’s a feel-good, nostalgic event that connects generations of music lovers.

Mule Day – Columbia, Tennessee

Mule Day has been a tradition in Columbia for over 180 years. What started as a mule auction has turned into a full-on celebration of rural life.

The event includes a mule parade, square dancing, live bluegrass, and even a mule pulling contest. Visitors get a glimpse into the agricultural roots of the area.

Vendors line the streets selling everything from fried pies to handmade leather goods.

It’s folksy, proud, and a true look at Southern tradition.

World Chicken Festival – London, Kentucky

This small Kentucky town is home to one of the quirkiest food festivals around—complete with the world’s largest skillet.

The World Chicken Festival honors Colonel Sanders with chicken-themed games, contests, and cooking. Thousands of pieces of fried chicken are served up hot all weekend.

There are carnival rides, pageants, and even a clucking contest for kids.

It’s a fun, feathered, family-friendly event that delivers more than just crispy bites.

Scandinavian Festival – Junction City, Oregon

Each August, this little Oregon town goes full Nordic. The Scandinavian Festival transforms downtown into an old-world village celebrating heritage and culture.

There are traditional costumes, dancing, storytelling, and plenty of hearty Scandinavian food like lefse and aebleskiver.

Craft vendors showcase handmade goods, and visitors can try their hand at folk games and language lessons.

It’s both educational and festive—perfect for families and curious travelers alike.

Sunflower Festival – Rutledge, Georgia

Towards the end of every summer, Rutledge becomes a sea of yellow during its annual Sunflower Festival. The event is held on a working farm and is a photo-lover’s dream.

There’s live music, food trucks, arts and crafts, and of course, fields full of sunflowers ready to be picked.

Guests can wander the flower rows, take home bouquets, and relax with a cold lemonade under the Georgia sun.

It’s peaceful, beautiful, and the kind of low-key fun that makes for a perfect day trip.

A Blast from the Past: The Testicle Festival in Clinton, Montana

The Testicle Festival no longer runs, but we had to include it on this list.

This one’s not for the squeamish. The Testicle Festival in Clinton was famous for its bold menu and wild energy.

For 35 years until 2018, it centered around deep-fried bull testicles, known locally as “Rocky Mountain oysters.” But it wasn’t just about the food—it was a full-on party with live music, dancing, and quirky contests.