# Small town festivals **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793 "2019-07-29T03:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/41 "2019-07-31T01:04:31Z")
Franklin, West Virginia has the Treasure Mountain Festival. Some of the highlights are a quilt show, antique cars, a pancake breakfast (it’s a big deal—those buckwheat pancakes are delicious!), and a flea market. There’s also a turkey calling and owl hooting contest. And some historical stuff. Franklin is a very small town (around 700). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/42 "2019-07-31T01:21:25Z")
When I was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, the largest employer in town was the Ohio Match company. So to celebrate this the town held a Blue Tip (their best-known product) Festival every year. Ohio Match stopped making matches there in the 1987 and the building is warehouse space now, but the festival goes on–it was June 18-22nd this year. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/43 "2019-07-31T01:42:55Z")
Viborg South Dakota [Danish Days](http://danishdays.org/). Lemmon South Dakota [Boss Cowman.](https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/events/2019-07-11/boss-cowman-days) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/44 "2019-07-31T12:32:35Z")
Reading this thread, it looks as if this is a US-only kind of thing. Surely this isn’t the case? \*I know of European festivals, oft with religious significance, in places like Pamplona and such. But Pamplona is hardly a small town. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/45 "2019-07-31T12:41:52Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > Banana splits were invented in the tiny town of Latrobe, PA. (Population 7,949…salute!) We went to the [Banana Split Festival](https://bananasplitfest.com/) last year and can’t wait to go back again. > > Latrobe’s other claims to fame are Fred Rogers, Arnold Palmer, and Steelers training camp. All this within 40 minutes of my front door. And Rolling Rock. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/46 "2019-07-31T12:52:46Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > And Rolling Rock. Fuck Rolling Rock. (Long story short: they split town) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/47 "2019-07-31T13:42:06Z")
I’m an one festival or another many weekends of the summer. It should have been three just this week but I need to miss the last one for a work trip. ☹ [ul] [li]QuickChek NJ Festival of Ballooning[/li][li]Warren County Farmer’s Fair featuring the Hot Air Balloon Festival[/li][li]Chesapeake Bay Balloon & Wine Festival[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/48 "2019-07-31T15:21:31Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Ohio has more festivals then any other state according to an old friend who was on the state festival committee. I’ve been to: 1. The Pumpkin Festival (now, apparently, renamed the "[Pumpkin Show"](https://www.carnifest.com/circleville-pumpkin-show-2018/)) in Circleville, Ohio. Or maybe it was always “The Pumpkin Show,” but we city slickers in Columbus just called it “The Pumpkin Festival” erroneously. 2. The [Sweet Corn Festival](http://fairbornsweetcornfestival.org/index.html) in Fairborn, Ohio. 3. [The Ohio Renaissance Festival](https://www.daytonlocal.com/things-to-do/ohio-renaissance-festival.asp), in Waynesville, Ohio I’ve also been to an apple festival or two. And I’ve been to a bunch of bluegrass festivals in that same state–I had summers full of them–but I don’t remember all of their names or locations. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/49 "2019-07-31T16:18:35Z")
Driving across Minnesota we came to Darwin, home of the largest Ball of Twine. They were having [Twin Ball Days](https://www.crowrivermedia.com/independentreview/news/local/havin-a-ball-in-darwin/article_4b28cb37-ede2-52da-820c-5152765e21a6.html), so we stopped to watch the parade. The craziest part was the kids rolling smaller twine balls down the street (as shown in the link). It was fun to see a small town festival, and those standing around us were curious why we were there (why not!). ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/50 "2019-07-31T16:23:38Z")
I grew up in Elwood, Indiana, where they have a summer town festival called the Elwood Glass Festival, due to the presence of a couple of art glassblowers. I thought it magnificent as a child. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/51 "2019-07-31T18:03:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Fuck Rolling Rock. (Long story short: they split town) So what about Iron City which I believe left Pittsburgh for there? Not that I liked either one anyway. I would rather grab a Gibbons and twist the head off that monkey. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/52 "2019-07-31T18:56:07Z")
I live in the hometown of the [Washington State Apple Blossom Festival](https://www.appleblossom.org/). A miserable affair that drags on for two whole weeks every year. On the final day of the festival, I always walk to and from work. Otherwise, it’s a 6-block drive there, and then a 2.5 mile drive back because the whole center of town is a clusterfuck. Its supporters go on about how much money it brings into the community, but after experiencing 35 of these festivals I’ve never seen a dime of it. The money comes into town and then flows right back out because it pays for my various bosses annual vacations to Cabo. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/53 "2019-07-31T19:28:35Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Reading this thread, it looks as if this is a US-only kind of thing. Surely this isn’t the case? > > \*I know of European festivals, oft with religious significance, in places like Pamplona and such. But Pamplona is hardly a small town. (Moderator Note - Caution - NSFW) Try the [Kanamara Matsuri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanamara_Matsuri), in Kawasaki, Japan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/54 "2019-07-31T19:45:12Z")
I’ve watched a couple movies recently that have segments that take place in Solvang, CA. The windmill there is easily recognized. And when you think windmills, you think [Danish Days](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvang,_California#Danish_Days), amiright? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/55 "2019-07-31T20:12:49Z")
The link in my previous post is NSFW. Should have put it in a spoiler box. Reported. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/56 "2019-07-31T22:49:55Z")
I was just in State College for the [Central PA Arts Festival](https://arts-festival.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/57 "2019-07-31T23:34:51Z")
[Mule Days in Bishop, CA](https://muledays.org/) A celebration every Memorial Day Weekend of the humble animal’s contributions to settling the mountainous Sierra Nevadas. The US Marine Corps’ Mountain Training Center in nearby Bridgeport make a showing. The Marines still use mules for extreme mountainous terrain. I’ve trained with those mountain Marines, they are an extra tough bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/58 "2019-08-01T00:50:27Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > So what about Iron City which I believe left Pittsburgh for there? > > Not that I liked either one anyway. I would rather grab a Gibbons and twist the head off that monkey. I don’t drink beer so I didn’t think to mention Rolling Rock or Iron City. But if you like banana splits, Latrobe is the place to be in late August. If garlic is more your thing, try the Garlic Festival in Holsopple. (I just live here, I don’t name the towns.) ---
**Author:** ![bubba001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f17d59/32.png) [@bubba001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba001)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/59 "2019-08-01T01:43:55Z")
Howell, Michigan has 2 festivals, one is the Howell Melon fest, and the other is the Howell balloon fest. Hot air ballons. My favorite local festival is the the 4th of July parade in Cohoctah, just north of Howell. One street in town, they march thru town, bands, tractors, old cars and trucks. Then they parade back the other way. Nice little community get together. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793/60 "2019-08-01T03:45:46Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I don’t drink beer so I didn’t think to mention Rolling Rock or Iron City. But if you like banana splits, Latrobe is the place to be in late August. If garlic is more your thing, try the Garlic Festival in Holsopple. (I just live here, I don’t name the towns.) Which sort of lead me to this article > **[The 9 Weirdest And Wackiest Festivals In All Of Pennsylvania You Can’t Miss...](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/pennsylvania/festivals-in-pa-2018/)** > > Start adding these weird and wacky festivals in Pennsylvania to your calendar! and plans for yet another trip to Ebensburg. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-town-festivals/837793.md?page=4)