Festivals have a long history of providing opportunities for a community to come together in celebration. Community festivals focus on something that affects or is unique to the area. But I have noticed some festivals seem odd to me.

For example, there is the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita, Colorado. This one just seems weird. Celebrating a chicken that lived 18 months without its head. Sorry, the thought grosses me out. But any reason to bring a community together for fun is probably a good thing.

Some festivals can provide a chance in a fun way to face our phobias:

• The Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Chute, Texas
• The Luckenbach Mud Daubers and Chili Cookoff Festival in Fredericksburg, Texas
• The Bug Fair in Los Angeles, California, includes bug cooking demonstrations
• The Spider Festival on Antelope Island, Utah
• The Waurika Rattlesnake Festival, Waurika, Oklahoma

But some unusual festivals just sound odd enough to give them a try:

• Underwater Music Festival, The Keys, Florida
• Annual Amtrak Mooning, Laguna Niguel, California
• Geckofest, Gulfport, Florida
• Twins Day Festival, Twinsburg, Ohio
• Cow Chip Throwing Festival, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
• UFO Festival, Roswell, New Mexico
• National Hollerin Festival, Clinton, North Carolina
• Humongous Fungus Festival, Michigan

Whatever makes you smile, inspires you, or gives you an excuse to go outside (or under the water) should be considered. These times can build memories for you and your family; hopefully, you will create fun memories, not scary ones.