Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Unusual Summer Festivals

Locations in this article:  Savannah, GA

We’re coming up on summer festival season, but I’m not going to tell you about the ones everyone knows about. I’m talking about the quirky events that really reflect the local culture and history.

Ever heard someone making music from a washboard? It’s crazy stuff, and in June, there’s the annual Washboard Music Festival in Logan, Ohio. It’s a celebration of the region’s Appalachian heritage.

And under the category of “you can’t make this stuff up,” there’s the Turpentine Festival in Portal, Georgia—about an hour outside of Savannah—where you’ll find one of the last remaining turpentine stills in the country. Yes, these guys are celebrating the history of turpentine, but they’re also celebrating their town’s heritage and history.

I’m not kidding when I tell you about the Mullet Toss. No, it has nothing to do with the haircut. This is when locals throw mullet fish across the state line from Alabama to Florida. It’s a crazy tradition and it comes with beach parties and other celebrations in honor of spring.

Meanwhile, Texas is home to both a Mosquito Festival and a Rattlesnake Roundup. Hey, they say everything is bigger in Texas…so why not celebrate it?

For more information, visit our Festivals Archive.

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