They Celebrate THAT in America? #2 Quiz

Answer: Chitlin' Strut

This unique festival is held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. For over one-hundred years, the chitlin', or fried pig intestine, has been a tasty favorite in the region. The first Chitlin' Strut was held in 1966 and was originally designed to assist with the cost of new decorations for the town for Christmas. Organizers estimate that 180,000 pounds of chitlins have been consumed at the annual festivals. Strut on over to Salley for some fun during fall.

Answer: Punkin' Chunkin'

Begun in 1986 as a response to seeing a similar contest on television, the founders decided that they could do better than what they had seen, and Punkin' Chunkin' was born. More than 20,000 people attend the annual event with more than $100,000 being raised in ticket sales and other funds. Participants, using machines specially made for the event, hurl pumpkins in an attempt to garner the longest distance prize. One world record was over 4,400 feet! Chunk your whole family over to Nassau for the festivities.

Answer: Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races

For over 25 years, Mountain View, Arkansas has been host to this savory, yet unsavory, event. What better event as a tie-in to a Bean Fest than an Outhouse Race? An estimated 1,500 pounds of beans are simmered slowly for all to enjoy when the noon dinner bell is rung. Served up with a generous helping of cornbread - ahhhhh...what a delight! Then comes the Parade of Outhouses as contestants get ready to run. Race on over to Mountain View for a rootin'-tootin' good time.

Answer: Annual Loggers' Jubilee

Facts are sketchy on exactly what year the Loggers' Jubilee actually started. It could have been 1937 or it may have been 1938. However, with the exception of the few years during World War II, Morton, Washington has been the proud host of this event ever since. Loggers' events include tall pole climbing, tug-of-war, chopping, sawing, ax throwing and Bull of the Woods. Chop a path over to Morton for a sawing good time.

Answer: Annual Ostrich Festival

Ostival and TuTu LaPlume, the festival mascots, have welcomed visitors to Chandler since 1989. A lot of good family fun is to be had while watching the largest birds on earth race to glory. You can also enjoy ostrich burgers and ostrich jerky, but don't let TuTu or Ostival catch you! Run on over to Chandler next March for the festivities.

Answer: Potato Days Festival

Potato Days can be traced back to the 1930s and is always an a-peeling good time for all. The area around Barnesville is known for its potatoes and this festival celebrates that heritage. All manner of potato recipes can be found for sampling at the festival and many good times are to be had for the whole family. You can even enjoy a horse-drawn wagon tour. Mash your foot to the peddle and hurry on up to Barnesville for the fun each August.

Answer: Mike the Headless Chicken Days

The 3rd weekend in May is a special time in Fruita. Mike, the headless chicken is immortalized with a town-wide festival. The story goes that in 1945, an attempt was made to kill a rooster for a special dinner. The rooster was beheaded, but had other plans. Mike, as he came to be known, lived on for an amazing 18 months without his head.

The farmer decided that if Mike was that determined to live, then he would feed and water him...somehow. And so, Mike was fed and watered with an eyedropper and grew to an astonishing weight of 8 pounds! Mike acquired an agent and became a popular attraction. People would pay 25 cents just to see him and he was soon valued at (and insured for) $10,000. Peck your way to Fruita and enjoy the fun!

Answer: Pirogi Fest

A weekend in July spent in Whiting could be a real treat! From watching the polka parade, to pirogi-ing out on delicious food, to musical entertainment, to kids' play areas, to an arts and crafts show....ya just can't miss with fun like this. The whole thing started as a way to try to honor their ethnic heritage and the tasty Eastern European little dumpling that sustained families during hard times. Polka the whole family to Whiting for a fun and delicious family trip.

Answer: World Grits Festival

In 1985, market owners and distributors realized that an inordinate amount of grits were consumed in St. George. And since the beginnings of this fun festival, crowds up-wards of 45,000 descend on the small community near Charleston each April to enjoy this wholesome family fun event. Grab some butter, or syrup if you prefer, and head on down to St. George if you've got the grit.

Answer: Avery Tomato Festival

Once upon a time, Avery had signs posted everywhere stating that it was the 'Tomato Capital of Northeast Texas'. They even posted the phrase on their water tower in 1949. Hence, the beginnings of a town-wide festival to honor this heritage. Now, Avery has incorporated many different events into a 4th of July tradition.

There are bushel-baskets full of stuff to do for the whole family. Join Avery some July to celebrate America as well as Avery.

Answer: Collinsville Cat-sup Bottle Festival and Birthday Party

Collinsville has the distinction of being the site of the world's largest cat-sup bottle. It soars over 170 feet into the sky! The bottle has a little secret, too. It is actually a water tower! Clever way of disguising a water tower, huh? Come on up to Collinsville this July and join in wishing this tall bottle a Happy Birthday, wont'cha?

Answer: Big Pig Jig

When: 1982
Who: a group of gourmets who conjured up a cooking contest.
What: possibly the tastiest, most delectable festival EVER!

From the hog show, to the arts and crafts booths, to the entertainment, to the BIG PIG JIG itself...you no doubt will come away stuffed with good family fun.
Join 'em in Vienna this fall and make a pig outta yourself.

Answer: The Whole Enchilada Festival

Nearly 10,000 people have experienced this event every year since 1980. According to sources, organizers use 75 gallons of red chili sauce, 175 pounds of grated cheese, 50 pounds of chopped onions, 750 pounds of stone ground corn and 175 gallons of cooking oil to make one pretty big enchilada.

It takes 14 men just to carry the tortillas one at a time to be cooked and then layered for the whole enchilada! The entire process takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Ay Chihuahua! Fiesta with the folks in Las Cruces some September - Hasta la vista, baby!

Answer: The Great Texas Mosquito Festival

The last weekend in July is when 'Willie Man-Chew' welcomes guests to Clute to celebrate. Residents used to joke about the abundance of mosquitoes in their area and so they created a celebration in their honor. By the way, 'Willie Man-Chew' is the 26 foot tall mascot of the event and sports a cowboy hat and boots. Buzz down to Clute for some fun this July.

Answer: Twinsburg Twins Days Festival

The first weekend in August each year brings many sets of multiple birth folks to Twinsburg. The festival is not limited to twins since triplets, quads, quints, etc. are welcome as well. The very first celebration took place in 1976, but the event has grown and evolved over the years. Today, thousands of sets of twins (not counting other multiple birth attendees) register for the fun weekend. If ya wanna see double, triple or beyond that, head over to Twinsburg this August.

Aren't Americans odd with the ways they choose to celebrate? And notice again, as in my first quiz on these unusual fests, that most of them include food in some way - and we are still wondering about that weight problem some Americans have.

Thanks for touring America with me again.