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.
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.
The Pumpkin Festival (now, apparently, renamed the "Pumpkin Show") in Circleville, Ohio. Or maybe it was always “The Pumpkin Show,” but we city slickers in Columbus just called it “The Pumpkin Festival” erroneously.
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.
Driving across Minnesota we came to Darwin, home of the largest Ball of Twine. They were having Twin Ball Days, 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!).
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.
I live in the hometown of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. 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.
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, amiright?
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.
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.)
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.