What do trolls, cow chips, mustard, and satellites all have in common? Here in Wisconsin, we’re always up for celebrating — and these aren’t your ordinary celebrations. Take festival fun to a whole new level at these eight unique and quirky events!
National Mustard Day – Middleton
All mustard magic happens in Middleton on National Mustard Day. Participate in the Mustard Games, enjoy live music and entertainment, and taste the annual new Culver’s Frozen Mustard Custard flavor! Bring the family to explore the Mustard Museum, meet the Mustardmakers who make it all happen and, of course, sample plenty of mustards.
U.S. Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship – Eau Claire
Watch as the world’s best chainsaw carvers create intricately detailed works of art out of wooden logs. These skilled artists sculpt stunning artwork before your eyes with prizes going to the best artwork in a variety of categories. Be sure to catch the quick-carve competition, and stick around through the weekend for the chance to bid on your favorite sculpture.
Head to Seymour to celebrate the birth of the hamburger in 1885. Featuring a hamburger eating contest, the popular ketchup slide, and the giant 200-pound cheeseburger, the day ends with the nighttime hot air balloon ascension over the city with colorful glowing balloons.
Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw – Prairie du Sac
It doesn’t get much quirkier than the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw, with more than 50,000 people visiting Prairie du Sac to watch contestants throw flattened cow chips (or dried cow patties) as far as they can. The current record is 248-feet! Stay for the fun run/walk, arts and crafts fair, and the hilarious Tournament of Chips Parade.
One of Wisconsin’s most “out of this world” festivals celebrates the 1962 crash landing of a piece of the Sputnik IV satellite in Manitowoc with fun, eccentric activities. Compete in the Cosmic Costume Contest by creating a stellar costume at home or crafting one on site using aluminum foil, or enter your pet in the Alien Pet Contest. Don’t miss the stellar Alien Drop where the Manitowoc Fire Department drops hundreds of alien erasers on the crash site.
Pardeeville is home of the U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating and Seed-Spitting Championships and the annual Watermelon Fest. Other championship activities include the largest watermelon contest and watermelon carving contest, and families can enjoy all-you-can-eat watermelon, a hay dive, and an art & craft fair.
Thirsty Troll Brewfest – Mount Horeb
Calling all beer connoisseurs! Sample a variety of craft beers, microbrews, ciders, meads and wines from around the country at this tasty event. Show your strength in the Masskrugstemmen, a popular competition where participants compete to see who can hold a one-liter stein of beer the longest with their arm extended. No spilling allowed!
Yes, the words “free” and “bacon” are used together to describe Bacon Bash. The nation’s largest free bacon festival features bacon-inspired activities, pig-calling contests and much more. Get your fix of all things bacon with a stop at the food booths, and don't miss the "When Pigs Fly" event, where plush pigs soar down from the rooftops!
The fun doesn't stop once the festival's over! Check out these 13 Quirky Roadside Attractions worth pulling over for.
