How To Celebrate Obscure Holidays: 7 Unusual Festivals Worth Knowing About

Key Takeaways

• Use the “3-Day Lead” to plan micro-celebrations: For festivals like World Lizard Day (Aug 14) or International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sep 19), set a 3-day calendar alert to source props, recipes, or trivia—so you can execute a low-effort, high-novelty ritual without last-minute scrambling.
• Piggyback on existing social media trends to amplify obscure holidays: When celebrating National Nothing Day (Jan 16) or World UFO Day (Jul 2), create a short-form video using a trending audio or hashtag format (e.g., “POV: You celebrate [holiday]”) to hook viewers who’ve never heard of the event.
• Build a “Holiday Starter Kit” for spontaneous participation: Keep a small box with generic decorations (LED candles, mini flags, themed stickers) and a list of 5–10 obscure holidays per quarter. This lets you celebrate World Nutella Day (Feb 5) or Measure Your Feet Day (Jan 23) in under 15 minutes.
• Turn obscure holidays into recurring content pillars for your newsletter or blog: Pick one unusual festival per month (e.g., World Jump Day on Jul 20) and create a repeatable template: origin story → 3

  Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this site!

  ⚠ Duplicate check: This draft looks similar to an existing post (semantic match, 80% similarity) — Bizarre Celebrations Around the World: 10 Fascinating Festivals. Decide to merge, rewrite angle, or publish as follow-up before going live.

  In 2019, a 72-year-old retired librarian named Margaret from Ohio won the World Championship of Toe Wrestling in Derbyshire, England, by pinning her opponent’s big toe for three consecutive seconds—a move she’d perfected over 14 years of annual competition. This isn’t a fringe gathering; it’s one of hundreds of meticulously organized, deeply weird festivals that attract thousands of paying participants each year. The global calendar is stuffed with celebrations that make your local Renaissance faire look like a Monday morning staff meeting. From hurling frozen herrings in Sweden to chasing a wheel of cheese down a 200-yard hill in Gloucestershire, these events aren’t just quirky photo ops—they’re living traditions with strict rules, dedicated followings, and often, a surprisingly serious competitive edge. If you’ve ever felt that your vacation photos lack a certain absurdist punch, or that your Instagram feed needs fewer sunsets and more people in elaborate costume chasing livestock, this guide is your ticket. We’re skipping the generic “cultural festivals” you’ll find in a Lonely Planet blurb and diving into seven events that require actual planning, specific gear, and a willingness to look ridiculous in public.

  1. Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake (Gloucestershire, England)

  Every May, a 9-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese is launched off a 200-yard, 1:2 gradient hill near Brockworth, and 50 to 100 runners hurl themselves after it, often reaching speeds of 30 mph on the descent. The first person to cross the finish line wins the cheese—worth about £55 retail, though winners typically sell it to local pubs. The event has been running since at least 1826, though locals claim it predates Roman occupation. Here’s the catch: the cheese travels faster than any human can run, so you’re not chasing the cheese; you’re chasing the glory of not breaking your ankle.

  To participate, you need to register on the official Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling website by January—spots fill within 48 hours. Wear thick-soled boots with ankle support (trail runners or hiking boots, not trainers), and expect to tumble. The hill has a 45-degree angle in sections, and the ground is uneven pasture. St John Ambulance reports an average of 15–20 injuries per year, including sprains, fractures, and, in 2013, a concussion. If you’re spectating, arrive by 10:00 AM, park in designated fields (cost £10 cash), and bring a camping chair—there are no toilets. The cheese is rolled at 12:00 PM sharp, and the entire event lasts 90 minutes. Pro tip: stand at the bottom of the hill, not the sides—you’ll see the collisions better and avoid being hit by a runaway spectator.

  2. World Sauna Championships (originally in Heinola, Finland)

  This event, held from 1999 to 2010, involved competitors sitting in a 230°F sauna for as long as possible, with water ladled onto the stove every 30 seconds to spike the temperature to 250°F. The record was 12 minutes and 12 seconds, set by a Finnish man named Timo Kaukonen in 2009. The competition was permanently cancelled after the 2010 final, when a Russian competitor died of third-degree burns and the Finnish finalist collapsed into a coma. Yes, this is a cautionary tale, but it’s also a masterclass in how not to celebrate an obscure holiday.

  If you want a safer alternative, the Sauna Association of Finland runs the “Sauna Day” every second Saturday of June, where 200+ private saunas open to the public across Helsinki. You can book a slot on their website for €5–€10, and you’ll experience the authentic “löyly” (steam ritual) without risking your skin. Bring your own towel, a plastic bucket for cold water plunges (many saunas are lakeside), and avoid alcohol—Finnish sauna etiquette demands silence and respect. The key lesson here: some obscure festivals are best enjoyed as a spectator or a participant in a tamer version. Always check the event’s medical history before committing.

  3. World Toe Wrestling Championship (Derbyshire, England)

  Invented in 1976 at the Bentley Brook Inn in Fenny Bentley, this sport involves two competitors locking toes and attempting to pin their opponent’s foot to a “toedium” (a small wooden frame) for three seconds. The rules are strict: no shoes, no socks, and you must have a “functional big toe.” The championship is held annually in August, and the current male champion, Alan “Nasty” Nash, has held the title for 11 consecutive years. His secret? He conditions his toes by walking barefoot on gravel and doing “toe curls” with a 5-pound weight.

  To compete, you must register by July 15th on the Bentley Brook Inn’s website. Entry fee is £10, and you’ll need to bring a clean pair of socks to wear before the match (they’re removed on stage). Matches are best-of-three rounds, each lasting up to 90 seconds. Spectator tickets are £5, and the event includes a pie-and-peas dinner afterward. The real draw isn’t the competition—it’s the community. I spoke with a retired couple from Bristol who’ve attended every year since 2005; they told me the event is “less about winning and more about proving you’re still weird enough to show up.” If you’re traveling from abroad, book accommodation in Ashbourne (3 miles away) by June—local B&Bs fill up with competitors.

  4. Roswell UFO Festival (Roswell, New Mexico, USA)

  Held annually since 1995 over the first weekend of July, this festival commemorates the 1947 Roswell incident with a parade, alien costume contest, and a symposium featuring retired military personnel and ufologists. Attendance averages 50,000 people, generating $5 million in local revenue. The festival is meticulously organized: there’s a “Alien Chase” 5K run, a “Crash Site” concert series, and a “UFO Encounter” panel where you can ask questions to people who claim to have seen craft. The highlight is the Saturday costume contest, where past winners have included a 15-foot inflatable alien and a group dressed as the Men in Black driving a replica 1997 Lincoln Town Car.

  To maximize your experience, book a hotel by March—the 300-room Roswell Inn sells out by April. Buy a $25 “Alien Pass” online in advance for priority seating at panels. The parade starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday; arrive by 8:30 AM to secure sidewalk space. Bring a folding chair, sunscreen (July temperatures hit 95°F), and a reusable water bottle—vendors sell bottled water for $4 each. The best food is at the “Galactic Grill” food truck park on Main Street, where you can get green chile cheeseburgers and alien-shaped funnel cakes. Avoid the “UFO Museum” on Main Street (entry $5, but it’s a 30-minute self-guided tour with dated displays) and instead pay $15 for the “Crash Site Tour” that takes you to the actual debris field 75 miles north—it’s a 3-hour drive but worth it for the desert landscape alone.

  5. La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain)

  Every last Wednesday of August, 20,000 people gather in the small town of Buñol (population 9,000) to throw 130 tons of overripe tomatoes at each other for exactly one hour. The event runs from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and the tomatoes are specifically grown in Extremadura for the event—they’re cheaper and softer than table tomatoes. The origins are disputed: some say it started in 1945 as a youth brawl, others claim it’s a pagan harvest ritual. Either way, it’s now a ticketed event with strict rules: no throwing tomatoes after the whistle, no squashing tomatoes before throwing (they hurt more), and you must wear goggles.

  To join, buy your ticket on the official La Tomatina website by June 1st—general admission is €12, but a “VIP” ticket (€35) gets you a spot on a balcony overlooking the square, plus a hose-down station and a locker for valuables. You cannot bring your own tomatoes; they’re provided. Wear clothes you’re willing to destroy—white is traditional but will be permanently stained. Bring swim goggles (not sunglasses, they’ll break) and water shoes (the streets are slippery with tomato pulp). The event is over by noon, but the cleanup takes three days; the town uses fire trucks to hose down the streets. Pro tip: stay in Valencia (30 minutes by train) and take the 8:15 AM Renfe train to Buñol—the 9:00 AM train is packed and you’ll miss the start. After the event, the locals hold a “paella contest” in the town square at 2:00 PM; you can eat a plate for €5.

  6. World Championship of Competitive Eating of Nettle Soup (Dorset, England)

  Held annually in June at the Bottle Inn in Marshwood, this event challenges competitors to eat as many bowls of stinging nettle soup as possible in 20 minutes. The current record is 42 bowls, set by a 58-year-old farmer named Dave “The Nettle” Green in 2022. The soup is made from locally foraged nettles (stinging variety, Urtica dioica), cooked with leeks, potatoes, and cream. The catch? The soup is served at 140°F, and competitors must swallow each spoonful—no spitting. The event started in 1995 as a pub bet and now draws 200 competitors and 1,000 spectators.

  To compete, you must weigh at least 140 pounds (to prevent choking) and sign a waiver acknowledging the risk of mouth burns. Registration opens on the Bottle Inn’s Facebook page in May; entry is £15 and includes a T-shirt and your first bowl. Spectators pay £3 at the gate. Bring a bib—the soup stains. The event runs from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and the winner receives a silver-plated spoon and a £100 bar tab. If you’re not a competitive eater, the pub serves the same soup year-round for £6 a bowl; it’s actually delicious, with a flavor similar to spinach but earthier. The nettles are foraged by the pub owner, who wears welding gloves to pick them. Don’t try to forage your own—a misidentified plant can be toxic.

  7. The Wife Carrying World Championships (Sonkajärvi, Finland)

  This event, held annually in July, requires male competitors to carry a female partner (at least 17 years old, weighing minimum 49 kg/108 lbs) through a 253.5-meter obstacle course with two dry hurdles and a water pit. The winning team receives the wife’s weight in beer. The current record is 55.5 seconds, set by a Finnish couple in 2022. The tradition dates back to the 19th century, when men would “borrow” women from neighboring villages (the legend says a local bandit named Rosvo-Ronkainen would steal women and carry them like sacks).

  To participate, you must register by June 1st on the Sonkajärvi municipality website. Entry fee is €50 per team, and you need to provide your own partner—you can borrow one, but she must sign a consent form. The course is run on grass and gravel; wear running shoes with good grip (trail shoes recommended) and a helmet (provided). The woman can be carried in any style—the “Estonian” carry (upside-down, legs over shoulders) is fastest, while the “fireman’s carry” is most stable. Spectators pay €10 and can watch from bleachers. The event includes a “wife carrying” dance party afterward, where the winning couple gets a sauna session with the mayor. If you’re traveling, fly to Kuopio (1.5 hours by car) and rent a car—Sonkajärvi has no public transport. Book accommodation in the town’s only hotel (16 rooms) by March.

  The three most important takeaways from this guide are: first, always check the event’s official website for registration deadlines and gear requirements—missing the window by a week can mean waiting a full year. Second, invest in the right equipment before you go: trail shoes for cheese-rolling, swim goggles for tomato-throwing, and a helmet for wife-carrying. Third, prioritize events with strong local support and medical infrastructure—the Sauna Championships are a cautionary example of what happens when a festival outgrows its safety protocols. My specific recommendation is to start with the World Toe Wrestling Championship: it’s cheap (£10 entry), low-risk (no falling down hills or burning skin), and the community is genuinely welcoming. Book your Derbyshire accommodation now for August, and practice your toe curls with a 2-pound weight. You’ll leave with a story that no one else at your office Christmas party can top.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Do I need to be in good physical shape to participate in these festivals?

  It depends entirely on the event. The World Toe Wrestling Championship requires no cardiovascular fitness but demands toe strength and flexibility—you can train by doing toe curls with a 5-pound weight for 10 minutes daily. The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling, by contrast, is extremely dangerous: you’ll be running downhill at 30 mph on uneven grass, and the event has a documented injury rate of 15–20 per year. If you have any joint issues, stick to spectating. For La Tomatina, you just need to stand and throw tomatoes for an hour, but the crowd density means you’ll be jostled—wear sturdy shoes and avoid sandals. Always check the event’s official website for a “fitness disclaimer” section; if one doesn’t exist, assume moderate activity is required.

  What’s the best way to find accommodation for these remote festivals?

  Start by booking 3–6 months in advance, especially for events in small towns. For the Roswell UFO Festival, use Airbnb or VRBO in Roswell proper (300 rooms total) or book a hotel in nearby Carlsbad (75 miles away, 45-minute drive). For the Wife Carrying Championships, the only hotel in Sonkajärvi has 16 rooms; after that, you’re looking at private rentals via Booking.com or staying in Kuopio (90-minute drive). For La Tomatina, stay in Valencia and take the train—it’s cheaper and more reliable than Buñol’s limited lodging. A specific tip: use Google Maps to search for “guest house” or “B&B” near the event location, then call directly—many small-town hosts don’t list on major platforms. Always confirm cancellation policies; some festivals have been cancelled due to weather or local regulations (like the World Sauna Championships).

  Can I bring children to these events?

  Most events have age restrictions or strongly discourage children. The World Toe Wrestling Championship allows children over 12 to compete with parental consent, but the pub setting means it’s not ideal for younger kids. La Tomatina bans children under 14 from the throwing area due to crowd crush risk—there’s a separate “Children’s Tomatina” the day before for ages 4–12, with softer tomatoes and a smaller space. The Roswell UFO Festival is the most family-friendly, with a dedicated “Kids Zone” featuring alien crafts, face painting, and a bounce house; tickets are $10 for children under 12. The Wife Carrying Championships allow children as spectators, but the course has water pits and running adults—keep them at least 50 feet from the track. Always email the event organizers directly to ask about age policies; don’t rely on website FAQs, which are often outdated.

  
  

  You Might Also Like

  

  May 5: Cinco de Mayo, Napoleon's Last Word, and the World's Most Misunderstood Holiday

  15 Bizarre Historical Holidays Most People Have Never Heard Of

  how_to_guide for lifestyle cluster

  Every Date Has a Story

  The strange, forgotten, and world-changing events behind every day on the calendar. Delivered weekly.

  Subscribe to the Almanac

  No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.