The Strange, The Funny, and The Sporting Food Festivals of Europe and the USA – Part I

Late November is almost upon us and once again Americans across the country are readying their table for that ubiquitous paragon of poultry – a large roasted turkey with assorted culinary accoutrements. Known as Thanksgiving Day or “Turkey Day”, the turkey has gradually become the reigning mascot of this holiday tradition but if one looks closely – there are other unusual festivities in both Europe and the USA that feature a particular creature or foodstuff as part of its celebration. Here in Part I, we shall look at some of the oddest food festivals in the USA. See if you can guess the State of origin or the Name of the festival or both. Good luck and happy gobble, gobble!

(1) Held every summer for the past 66 years, what five-day food festival celebrates a luscious red crustacean sometimes called the “Cockroach of the Sea”? Festivities include a big parade, an international crate race, cooking contests, US Navy ship tours, and wonderful displays of local crafts. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(2) Known as a powerful seasoning, a relative of the onion, prized by the Egyptians for culinary and medicinal purposes and known for its repellant properties against vampires, what three-day festival celebrates this pungent herb? NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(3) A member of the sunflower family, introduced to the New World by Christopher Columbus, and sometimes referred to as ‘rabbit food’, what food festival celebrates this leafy vegetable which Americans consume at the rate of 30 pounds per year? NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(4) Of Native American origin and common in the southern United States, what three-day food festival honors this thick corn-based porridge with contestants rolling in it, grinding it, and eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(5) A member of the nightshade family, first cultivated in Central and South America over 6000 years ago, what two-day festival celebrates this type of pepper used in enchiladas, stews, and sauces?  NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(6) Held the second weekend of each November, what food festival features a green mascot indigenous to the bayous of this state? Festivities include a queen’s contest, carnival, parade, live music, and of course this tailless amphibian’s racing and jumping contests. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(7) Held in the Midwest every July, this three-day food festival features a fun-loving polka parade, a Precision Lawn-mower drill team, a twirling Babushka Brigade, a Polish Princess, and dancing dumplings and dumpling tosses – all in honor of this Eastern European handmade dumpling popularized by immigrants coming to America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(8) First introduced in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the 1930’s, this round marshmallow-filled graham cracker cookie pastry is celebrated each year on the third Saturday of June along with soft drink, Royal Crown Cola, in a one-day Southern classic extravaganza. Festivities include a 10-mile run, games, contests, cloggers, Country music and bluegrass, and dozens of food stalls and arts and crafts booths. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(9) Also known as “Shroomfest”, what four-day food festival in this mile-high state celebrates a foodstuff grown in darkness? Festivities include people dressing up like delectable fungi, cooking demonstrations, and guided hikes in fungi hunting. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(10) Held every September, what bizarre food festival features wild game commonly found dead along the road such as armadillos, deer, rabbits, porcupines, possum, raccoons, squirrels, groundhogs and bears? Festivities include a 5K run, a dog show, a beauty pageant, duck races, musical shows, and arts and crafts. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(11) Held every September at the Museum of Natural Sciences, what southeastern food festival features insects as the sole gourmet item? Festivities include live bands, a street carnival, a nocturnal insect tour of moths, fireflies, katydids, face paintings for kids, beekeeping workshops, buggy dishes and exhibits and roach races. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(12) What three-day food festival in May features one of the oldest rattlesnake hunts in the world? Festivities include a horseshoe tournament, a poker run, live music, caboose rides, helicopter rides, a town-wide garage sale and snake measuring contests. NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

(13) Beginning in the Depression and held every July since 1935, this three-day event celebrates this tart-flavored fruit with an arts and crafts festival, a Grand Day parade, royalty coronations, a 5 mile run, and a pig roasting at the end.  NAME THE FESTIVAL AND THE STATE IT IS HELD IN.

Answers:

(1) Maine Lobster Festival – Maine

(2) Gilroy Garlic Festival – California

(3) Yuma Lettuce Days – Arizona

(4) World Grits Festival – South Carolina

(5) Hatch Chile Festival – New Mexico

(6) Rayne Frog Festival – Louisiana

(7) Whiting Pierogi Fest – Indiana

(8) RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival – Tennessee

(9) Telluride Mushroom Festival – Colorado

(10) The West Virginia RoadKill Cook-Off – West Virginia

(11) The Bugfest – North Carolina

(12) Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup – Oklahoma

(13) Hopkins Raspberry Festival – Minnesota