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Motel 6's Top 6 Quirkiest Summer Festivals of 2017! by Donna John

June 05, 2017

From coast to coast, America is home to some of the most original and entertaining summer festivals founded by local communities celebrating their heritage. To inspire summer wanderlust and encourage travelers to experience these truly amazing events, the iconic all-American lodging brand and its famous voice, Tom Bodett, came together for the second consecutive year to curate a list of "Motel 6's Top Six Quirkiest Summer Festivals of 2017."

Mule Days Celebration in Bishop, Calif.; May 23 – May 28: More than 30,000 fans from around the world gather each Memorial Day Weekend for the 48th annual equestrian festival, which is part mule competition and part Wild West show!

Watermelon Thump in Luling, Texas; June 22 – June 25: Since the festival's inception in 1954, residents and out-of-towners alike have rallied around the four-day festival. Paying tribute to the iconic summer fruit and its local growers, the festival also raises awareness for the town's thriving watermelon market.

WestFest in Chicago, Ill.; July 7 – July 9: The excitement in Chicago's West Town picks up every summer for the annual WestFest celebration, which reflects the city's hip local scene and highlights Chicago-based businesses and talent.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Wheat Ridge, Colo.; July 29 – July 30: The annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is a wildly popular cultural and athletic event that celebrates the diverse local Asian American Pacific Islander community. The festival boasts the largest Dragon Boat Festival in the country, featuring an epic lake race of more than 50 colorful dragon boat teams.

Twins Days in Twinsburg, Ohio; August 4 – August 6: Each year, hundreds of sets of twins travel to Twinsburg, Ohio, to celebrate their duality at the Twins Days festival – the largest gathering of twins and other multiples in the world.

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival in Prairie Du Sac, Wis.; September 1 – September 2: Every Labor Day weekend, fair-goers let their cow chips fly during the annual Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival, which was inspired by the region's ingenious settlers who used dried buffalo "cow chips" as a life-sustaining utility to fuel their home.