The next time someone asks you for your cellphone number, you may want to think twice about giving it.
The
cellphone number is more than just a bunch of digits. It is
increasingly used as a link to private information maintained by all
sorts of companies, including money lenders and social networks. It can
be used to monitor and predict what you buy, look for online or even
watch on television.
It
has become “kind of a key into the room of your life and information
about you,” said Edward M. Stroz, a former high-tech crime agent for the
F.B.I. who is co-president of Stroz Friedberg, a private investigator.
Yet the cellphone number is not a legally regulated piece of information like a Social Security
number, which companies are required to keep private. And we are told
to hide and protect our Social Security numbers while most of us don’t
hesitate when asked to write a cellphone number on a form or share it
with someone we barely know.
That
is a growing issue for young people, since two sets of digits may well
be with them for life: their Social Security number and their cellphone
number.
Nearly
half of all American households have given up their landlines and have
only wireless phone service — a figure that has risen more than 10
percentage points in just three years. Among people ages 25 to 29, the
share of homes that have only wireless phone service stands at 73
percent, according to government statistics.
Taylor
Gallanter, a 23-year-old hair stylist in San Francisco, has had her
cellphone number since she was 15. She has never had a landline and
doubts she ever will.
She
knows how valuable her cellphone number is. She does not provide it on
online forms unless it is required. Using her email address as contact
information, she said, seems less invasive and risky.
“With just your cellphone number and name, I know they can get all sorts of information about you,” Ms. Gallanter said.
In
fact, investigators find that a cellphone number is often even more
useful than a Social Security number because it is tied to so many
databases and is connected to a device you almost always have with you,
said Austin Berglas, a former F.B.I. agent who is senior managing
director of K2 Intelligence, a private investigator.
“The
point is the cellphone number can be a gateway to all sorts of other
information,” said Robert Schoshinski, the assistant director for
privacy and identity protection at the Federal Trade Commission. “People
should think about it.”
The use of the cellphone number in new, unanticipated ways has echoes in the history of the Social Security number,
which was created in 1936. Its original purpose was to enable the
nation’s nascent social insurance system to maintain accurate records of
workers covered under the program. It was never meant as a
general-purpose identification number.
Gradually,
the simplicity of using a unique number to identify people encouraged
the widespread use by other government agencies and corporations. That
took off starting in the 1960s, when mainframe computers made it
possible to create huge digital files on citizens and customers.
The
spread of the Social Security number as a quick and easy identifier,
found in all kinds of corporate and government databases, has smoothed
the way for commerce. But there have been unintended consequences.
“That Social Security numbers are so broadly used and often so poorly protected is a major cause of the current epidemic of identity theft,” said Alessandro Acquisti, a computer scientist and privacy expert at Carnegie Mellon University.
The total losses in the United States from stolen identities used in crimes like credit card and loan fraud were $15 billion last year,
Javelin, a research and consulting firm, estimated. And 11 percent of
American adults say they lost money last year in a telephone swindle, according to a Harris Poll survey sponsored by Truecaller, a Swedish maker of a cellphone app with features like caller ID and spam blocking.
But
if a cellphone number and the intimate computer behind it open a door
to new risks, technology, as is so often the case, can also be employed
to combat those risks.
Take
fraud prevention. When shoppers use Affirm, a start-up that offers an
alternative to credit cards for online purchases, the company’s software
mines many data sources and approves or rejects a loan within a minute
or so.
To
perform that feat of technical wizardry, Affirm asks borrowers for a
few pieces of personal information, including their names and dates of
birth.
But
the strongest identifier and conduit to useful information is the
cellphone number, which acts like “the digital equivalent of the Social
Security number,” said Max Levchin, chief executive of Affirm.
When
a customer of Affirm wants to get an installment loan to buy, say, an
$850 mattress or a $3,000 mountain bike, the company sends the person a
temporary personal identification number in a text message.
The
same form of authentication is widely used by banks, payment systems
like PayPal and other companies before certain transactions are
approved. The temporary ID numbers typically remain valid for only 30
seconds to 180 seconds, increasing the odds that the person trying to
borrow or buy is indeed the same person who owns the phone with that
number.
It’s
not foolproof, but if a cellphone is lost or stolen, it is typically
locked. It can be hacked into, but that takes a separate set of skills.
By contrast, a stolen Social Security number is a permanent pathway to
identity theft.
“What
you can do with the cellphone number and mobile technology represents a
pretty substantial advantage in the ongoing war against fraud and
identity theft,” said Rajeev Date, a venture investor and former banker,
who was previously deputy director of the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau.
But
a cellphone-only life presents problems for many independent
professionals and workers at start-ups and small businesses, who make
business calls on their personal cellphones. So Ms. Gallanter, a partner
in a mobile barbershop in a van, became one of the five million people who have installed the new app Sideline this year to add a second number to their cellphones.
The
service is free for individuals and $10 a month a number for groups of
workers in a business, who get extra features like a company directory
and voice mail transcription. One of Sideline’s ad mottos is: “Keep your
personal number private. Add a second number to your smartphone.”
“This
gives you a second mobile identity, which more and more people need
today,” said Greg Woock, chief executive of Pinger, a start-up in San
Jose, Calif., that created the Sideline software and service.
The Better Business Bureau is warning shoppers about holiday-themed scams.
"When consumers let their guard down they become
the perfect target for fly-by-night Internet merchants, phishers and
charitable imposters," says Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford
Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. "Each year at Christmas
consumers lose millions of dollars to scam artists who rip them off."
Here is the list of scams the BBB is telling us to watch out for as we do our Christmas shopping:
1. Secret Sister Exchange: A social media scam
that claims if you buy a $10 gift and send it to a "secret sister," you
will receive anywhere from six to 36 in return. This is a variation on
"pyramid schemes" and it's illegal.
2. Help Scams: Calls to unsuspecting relatives or
friends from imposters who claim to be a grandchild, niece, nephew or
friend, who is traveling, and they need emergency financial help to
cover medical or legal expenses.
3. Seasonal Travel Scams: Whether it's a promise
of a free or discounted trip, phony rental listings, or con men telling
timeshare sellers they've got a buyer lined up, scammers are working to
rip you off. Check out any offers of great travel deals.
4. Point of sale Malware:is malicious software
expressly written to steal customer payment data -- especially credit
card data -- from retail checkout systems. Check your credit card
statements to make sure you don't have unwanted charges as a result of a
point-of-sale breach of your credit security.
5. Phony charities: 'Tis the season to donate,
but be wary of fake charities. Do your research and double check the
site URL. Check out charities at http://ask.bbb.org/.
6. Fake coupons: Avoid the unwanted gift of
malware and always verify that e-cards or coupons are from someone you
know and are from a trustworthy site.
7. Fake shipping notifications: Think twice
before clicking links in shipping notification emails. Always verify the
shipping company before giving out your personal information.
8. ATM Skimmers: The typical ATM skimmer is a
device smaller than a deck of cards that fits over the existing card
reader. It is essentially a malicious card reader that grabs the data
off the card's magnetic stripe so that the thief can harvest data from
every person that swipes their cards.
9. Fake Romance: Scammers create fake online
profiles using photos of other people - even stolen pictures of real
military personnel. They profess their love quickly. And they tug at
your heartstrings with made-up stories about how they need money - for
emergencies, hospital bills, or travel.
10. Fake Apps/phony e-tailers: Today, smartphones
act not only as a phone but also a credit card, house key, camera and
more. Malware can access your device via apps. Do your research and
stick to official app stores when downloading.
11. Free gift cards: Pop-up ads or emails
offering free gift cards are often just a ploy to get your personal
information that can later be used for identity theft.
12. Phishing emails: Be wary unexpected deals or
product promotions from stores or sellers you have never dealt with.
There will be people trying to take advantage of buyers where the victim
could be subject to phishing tactics or just stolen money for an order
that will never come in.
“Something, something, part of your
world!” Okay, so that’s me trying to sing Part Of Your World from
Disney’s The Little Mermaid without the lyrics in front of me. As it
turns out, not only do I not remember 99% of the words, the lyrics are
actually “part of that world.” Whoops. Fortunately, 3-year-old
Claire knows the song much better than I do. Indeed, it’s Part Of Your
World is her favourite song (pre-Frozen era, that is). So what happens
Dad happens to be a music producer with a home studio? Well, you record
your little girl and make the most adorable music video ever that she
will no doubt cherish for the rest of her life!
A flat tire is a thing that can ruin even the best bike trip.
However, riders can forget dragging around their patch kits and pumps,
because Nexo created an airless tire to ensure they keep pedaling.
Flat-free
tires aren’t new, however they weren’t widely used because of poor
stiffness and shock absorption, compared to the conventional ones. But
this Utah-based company claims to have found a solution to these
problems. The tires are made from polymeter blends that are said to
offer not only a perfect balance of cushion and resilience, but
durability as well. The product comes in two different shapes – tires to
be mounted on existing wheels with a lifespan of up to 3,100 miles, and
others, which replace the entire wheel set and last for up to 5,000
miles.
If that’s not enough, Nexo made their products from a
single material, which makes recyclability really easy. Considering that
10,000,000 tons of bike tires and tubes are discarded every year,
that’s certainly a step in the right direction.
More info: Kickstarter (h/t: treehugger)
These innovative bike tires can’t get flat
They are made from polymeter blends that offer durability and a perfect balance of cushion and resilience
Users can mount them on their wheels or purchase entirely new wheel sets
Cyclists can ride these tires for up to 5,000 miles
Because they’re made from a single material, recycling becomes really easy
Are you ready to say goodbye to conventional tires?
Comparing something to a grain of sand
is usually supposed to mean that it’s small or insignificant, but Dr.
Gary Greenberg’s microscopic photography aims to turn this stereotype on
its head. His photographs of miniscule grains of sands magnified up to
300 times reveal that each grain of sand can be beautiful and unique.
Greenberg’s
story is a fascinating one. First of all, he invented the
high-definition 3D microscopes that he takes his pictures on, resulting
in 18 U.S. patents under his name. He was a photographer and filmmaker
until age 33, when he moved from LA to London and earned a Ph. D. in
biomedical research. This seems to have given him a unique appreciation
for biological and scientific curiosities and for the optical
technologies he would need to document them.
Sand
composition can vary drastically depending on where it’s located. The
coastal sands in Hawaii, where Dr. Greenberg is located, are very likely
the subjects of his amazing micro-photography. The sand in his images
is full of remnants from various tropical sea organisms large and small.
The sand on other coasts, depending on the temperature, surf conditions
and marine environment, may include a totally different set of rocks,
minerals and organic matter.
Today I found out that the Popsicle was invented by an eleven-year-old boy.
In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson
from San Francisco, California invented the popular hot weather treat,
the Popsicle as we know it today. However, the invention supposedly came
about as a pure accident! According to the Popsicle company, one cold
evening Frank left a mixture of powder flavored soda water with a stir
stick in it on the porch. Because of the cold weather outside, he awoke
to a frozen treat on a stick.
Seventeen years later, in 1922, Epperson
served his ice lollipops at a Fireman’s ball and they were a huge hit.
It didn’t take long then for Epperson to realize the commercial
possibilities of his accidental invention. A year later, in 1923, he
introduced the frozen pop on a stick to the public at Neptune Beach, an
amusement park in Alameda, California. It was a big success. He soon
after applied and received a patent for a “frozen confectionery”, in
1924, which he named the “Epsicle Ice Pop”. He began producing it in
different fruit flavors on birch wood sticks.
Epperson and his partners set up a
royalty arrangement with the Popsicle Corporation, but Mr. Epperson sold
his patent to the Popsicle after 1925, to the Joe Lowe Company of New
York. At the time, he was broke and had to liquidate all his assets to
stay afloat. The Joe Lowe Company grew the brand as the Popsicle gained
popularity, diversifying into similar frozen treats such as the twin
Popsicle, Fudgsicle, Creamsicle and Dreamsicle. The Popsicle brand
today belongs to Unilever’s Good Humor division, having been owned by a
number of companies since its inception.
Bonus Facts:
Today the Popsicle brand is an American classic with more than 30 creative variations of the original.
Two billion Popsicle ice pops are consumed every year. Cherry is the number one favorite Popsicle flavor.
It is unclear exactly where the name “popsicle” comes from, but it
is thought it derives from the contraction of “lollypop” and “icicle”.
Another food invention that was supposedly discovered accidentally
was the Chocolate Chip Cookie. Mrs. Wakefield was making chocolate
cookies but ran out of regular baker’s chocolate. She substituted it
with broken pieces of semi-sweet chocolate, expecting it to melt. Later
she sold the recipe to Nestle in exchange for a lifetime supply of
chocolate chips.
Eat your way across America with this ultimate map of foodie
celebrations.
Illustrations by Brosmind
When it comes to quirky food festivals, America stands united. Our
cross-country map of state-by-state cuisine celebrations, adapted
from National Geographic's new book, Great
American Eating Experiences, takes you from Massachusett's
fluffernutter fest to a garlic gathering in California (breath mints
recommended). Plan a food-filled road trip to follow the locals to
these top festivals highlighting regional specialities.
Alabama
The Peanut
Boil Festival in Luverne includes much more than fresh goobers
every September. Go nuts for the arts and crafts, beauty pageant, car
show, and live music.
Alaska
Every May, the Kodiak
Crab Festival celebrates one of Alaska’s most sought-after food
items over five days of bacchanal, with cooking demonstrations by
Alaska chefs using locally harvested seafood and wild greens.
Arizona
Everything you always wanted to know about lettuce is
the focus of Yuma
Lettuce Days, which unfolds each February at the University of
Arizona Agriculture Center. A fresh-from-the-field salad bar
featuring locally grown head, leaf, and romaine lettuce is one of the
main attractions, but the leafy shindig also boasts cooking
demonstrations, live music, and lectures.
Arkansas
Munch on a big and crunchy fried dill and watch, or
better yet, enter the contests at Atkins
Picklefest held each May. Locals find the power to inhale sour
during the pickle-eating or pickle-juice drinking challenges.
California
Once misunderstood (too ethnic!) or even reviled
(stinky!), the boldly flavored Allium sativum has come a long
way to become an essential part of the American pantry. And no place
in America wears its garlic pride like the agricultural city of
Gilroy, the self-proclaimed “garlic capital of the world,” during
the annual Gilroy
Garlic Festival when dozens of vendors spare no flavor.
Colorado
The Great
American Beer Festival in Denver allows visitors the chance to
sample thousands of American craft beers. Judges separate the best
suds from the duds during this three-day annual event held every
fall.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s annual Milford
Oyster Festival celebrates the wealth of East Coast oysters,
harvested from Maine to Virginia. But the choicest of the 30,000
oysters (and clams) served on the half shell at this August event are
those marked with a “CT.”
Delaware
Bridgeville, Delaware, home to the nation’s largest
producer, RAPA Scrapple, goes all out with its annual Apple
Scrapple Festival each October. Find all-you-can-eat scrapple
breakfasts, scrapple carving, and scrapple chunkin’—a shot
put–style contest where participants fling packages of scrapple as
far as they can.
District of Columbia
Truckeroo
is a monthly festival held April through October at the corner of
Half Street and M Street SE, across from the Navy Yard metro station.
It brings together more than 20 food trucks for a full day of live
music, games, and tasty eats.
Florida
The annual Key
Lime Festival in Key West around July 4 includes pie cooking
demonstrations and competitions and the requisite key lime pie–eating
contest. Plus, there’s ample opportunity to sample the goods along
with key lime cocktails and locally distilled key lime rum.
Georgia
Held every June in Peach County, the weeklong Georgia
Peach Festival includes the baking—and eating—of the world’s
largest peach cobbler. The 11-by-5-foot dessert uses 75 gallons of
fresh peaches. Festival events are held in Peach County’s two
cities, Fort Valley and Byron.
Hawaii
The Kona
Coffee Cultural Festival takes place over 10 days in early
November of each year, highlighting the region’s long coffee and
cultural heritage. Daily coffee tastings, art strolls, and tours of
working coffee farms are worth the buzz.
Idaho
Potato sack races, tuber tosses, tugs-of-war over a
potato “mash pit,” and the Miss Russet beauty contest highlight
September’s Idaho
Spud Day in Shelley, on the banks of the Snake River.
Illinois
The Southern Illinois river town of Golconda throws a
jumbo-size Shrimp
Festival each September for sustainably farmed shrimp. Find
cornhole tournaments, a Little Miss Shrimp pageant, and enough shrimp
dishes to satisfy anyone's appetite.
Indiana
Persimmon passion peaks every year in September
during the fruit’s namesake
festival in Mitchell, Indiana. Expect a seriously small-town
scene, complete with a parade, a candlelight tour of the town’s
historic area, and the persimmon pudding competition.
Iowa
Bacon lovers rejoice at the Des Moines Blue
Ribbon Bacon Festival every February. Go whole hog with lectures,
eating competitions, and sizzling live entertainment.
Kansas
Proclaimed the “Spinach Capital of the World”
during the 1930s, the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa celebrates the
leafy green with a family-oriented Spinach
Festival in September. Participants try to outdo their record for
the largest spinach salad or pose for photo ops with Popeye and Olive
Oyl.
Kentucky
The World
Chicken Festival held each September in London honors Laurel
County’s fried fowl heritage, since Kentucky Fried Chicken was
invented nearby. Some 7,000 festival chicken dinners are fried
annually in what’s billed as the world’s largest stainless steel
skillet: a 700-pound pan that can cook 600 chicken quarters at a
time.
Louisiana
November’s Oak Street Po-Boy
Festival in Uptown New Orleans attracts nearly 60,000 sandwich
lovers and more than 40 vendors selling a dizzying array of delicious
po’boys stuffed with everything from German goulash to fried Maine
lobster.
Maine
August’s blueberry harvest is a statewide
celebration, but the Wilton
Blueberry Festival is really top of the pick. The two-day event
serves up pancake breakfasts, blueberry cook-offs, and plenty of pies
to take home.
Maryland
Spice things up at the Old
Bay Festival in Cockeysvile held in June. The state's signature
flavor is showcased through competitions for the best seasoned dish
and crab races.
Massachusetts
Don’t miss the annual September What
the Fluff? festival in Somerville’s Union Square, where the
gooey treat was invented. A marshmallow toss, musical performances,
and the ultimate fluffernutter sandwiches are sure to stick.
Michigan
In early July, the eight-day National
Cherry Festival attracts half a million people to Traverse City
for events like the Cherry Pie Bike Ride (all participants get a free
slice of cherry pie), orchard tours, cherry pie–eating contests,
and the Make & Bake cherry pie workshop for children.
Minnesota
Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville,
Minnesota, hosts a Native American–focused Wild
Rice Festival each September where visitors can feast on wild
rice pancakes, sausages, and “four sisters” soup made with corn,
squash, beans, and wild rice.
Mississippi
The World
Catfish Festival in Belzoni each April celebrates the city’s
1976 title as “farm-raised catfish capital of the world.” Events
include a catfish fry, live blues and gospel music, and a
catfish-eating contest.
Missouri
More than 600 teams vie every October to be top
pitmaster at the American
Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas City, Missouri. Juried
categories cover everything from best sauce to best brisket, plus
live entertainment and fireworks.
Montana
Pancake breakfasts and dessert contests are just part
of the huckleberry-centric fun at the Trout Creek Huckleberry
Festival each August. The community gathers for a parade,
horseshoe contests, and dancing under the stars.
Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska, puts on a sweet face to celebrate
their invention of the flavored drink mix during Kool-Aid
Days in August. Discover collectible exhibits, photo ops with the
Man, drinking contests, and the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand.
Nevada
The culture and heritage of Greece shines at the
annual Las
Vegas Greek Food Festival in September. Attendees can join
traditional dances to work off the gyros, souvlaki, and baklava
served in abundance.
New Hampshire
The mid-October Milford
Pumpkin Festival is the destination for all things pumpkin: the
pumpkin weigh-in (winners top 1,300 pounds), the pumpkin catapult,
the pumpkin lighting, and, of course, the pumpkin pie competition.
New Jersey
Trenton recently inaugurated the annual Pork
Roll Festival to celebrate its unique culinary contribution.
Vendors sell their favorite pork roll creations against a background
of live music.
New Mexico
One of the best places to buy (and try) a wide
variety of locally grown hot things is the Viva
New Mexico Chile Festival in Los Lunas. In addition to a salsa
contest and chili cook-off, the three-day event invites chili farmers
to vend their green and red treasures at numerous stalls around the
festival grounds.
New York
Lyons, in upstate New York, honors its sweet history
as a main producer of peppermint oil during Peppermint
Days every July. Families find tractor shows, historic tours, and
amusement rides during the festival weekend.
North Carolina
Agriculture takes center stage at the Smithfield Ham
& Yam Festival in May, with pig races and barbecue cook-offs.
Hundreds of vendors gather around carnival rides and live
entertainment.
North Dakota
Dust off your horned helmet and bring a Viking-size
appetite if you’re heading to the Norsk
Høstfest in Minot, which runs late September through early
October. The five-day celebration includes concerts, dancing, and
even a folk school teaching traditional crafts, but the biggest draw
is the food since one third of North Dakotans have roots in Norway.
Ohio
The annual Ohio
Pawpaw Festival is held each September in Albany, Ohio, just 20
miles from the border with West Virginia. The three-day fete features
creative culinary inventions like pawpaw mustard, pawpaw tamales, and
even pawpaw wheat beer.
Oklahoma
Tiny Bristow is a long way from Beirut, but it has
been home to a large population of Lebanese immigrants for more than
a century. Every May they celebrate Lebanon’s signature salad at
the Tabouleh
Fest, complete with a Miss Tabouleh pageant, belly dancers, and
an all-you-can-eat Lebanese lunch prepared by local churches.
Oregon
Berry lovers rejoice in downtown Portland during July
with the Oregon
Berry Festival in full swing to highlight one of oldest berry
industries in the country. Blackberry pies compete for top prize, a
city celebrity chef hosts a gala dinner, and musicians jam out for
the occasion.
Pennsylvania
A party for bean soup is not as odd as it sounds,
since the McClure
Bean Soup Festival held in September traces its roots to
practical dinners organized by Civil War soldiers. Now baking
contests, horse shows, and garden tractor pulls bring the community
together.
Rhode Island
Clam chowder takes many forms from creamy New England
style to the tomato-based soup in New York. Vistitors can taste them
all during the Block
Island Chowda' Fest in May, when island restaurants compete for
the best bowl and a year of bragging rights.
South Carolina
The World
Grits Festival held each April in St. George celebrates the small
town’s collective appetite for grits. According to the locals, more
grits are consumed per capita here than anywhere else in the world.
The event includes the opportunity to roll in grits because . . . why
not?
South Dakota
First buffalo are coralled in Custer State Park. Then
local cooks compete during the Buffalo
Wallow Chili Cook-Off taking place every October, with plenty of
sampling opportunities for visitors.
Tennessee
The International
Biscuit Festival and the aroma of fresh-baked biscuits draws more
than 20,000 people into downtown Knoxville each May. Biscuit-based
events include a contest with several categories, including sweet and
savory, and samples for nibbling.
Texas
A 10-day salute to sausage takes place in November
during the Wurstfest
in New Braunfels. The fun links to the area's German heritage with
plenty of beer and cheer.
Utah
Contests to choose the best funeral potatoes are a
staple of the Utah
State Fair, held every September in Salt Lake City. The annual
11-day festival starting after Labor Day on historic fairgrounds also
promises best in show livestock, clowns, and deep-fried delicacies.
Vermont
The annual Vermont
Maple Festival, held in St. Albans in late April, is a
celebration of all things maple— including the end of the hectic
sugaring season—with syrup tastings and, of course, a pancake
breakfast.
Virginia
The small town of Alberta in Brunswick County,
Virginia, hosts the annual Taste
of Brunswick Festival in October. You can taste the entries from
its Brunswick Stew Cook-Off, held every fall at the 17th Street
Farmers Market, where you can buy sample- or quart-size portions of
stew from different makers.
Washington
Held each fall on the grounds of the Leavenworth
National Fish Hatchery, the three-day Wenatchee
River Salmon Festival celebrates the return of the salmon to the
sea from their freshwater spawning grounds. A collaborative project
of Native American tribes throughout the Northwest showcases
traditional fishing and cooking of salmon as well as storytelling and
handicrafts.
West Virginia
Each year, around 100,000 people descend upon the
small town of Kingwood during the final weekend of September for the
Preston
County Buckwheat Festival, including three parades, the
coronation of King Buckwheat and Queen Ceres (goddess of
agriculture), and endless stacks of buckwheat pancakes. These aren’t
your ordinary flapjacks.
Wisconsin
The kolache, a pastry pillow or pocket stuffed with a
sweet, gooey poppy seed or fruit filling, originated in Bohemia and
is now popular in places where Czech migrants settled in America. The
Agricultural Heritage Farm in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, hosts a summer
Czech
& Kolache Festival that includes polka, beer—and, of
course, lots of kolache.
Wyoming
Elk antlers are collected from the National Elk
Refuge near Jackson Hole to get the festivities started during the
May Elkfest. Then a chili
cook-off ensues, surrounded by auctions and conservation tours.
View Images
This map of state-by-state food festivals was adapted from
National Geographic's new book, Great
American Eating Experiences.
PUBLISHED July 20, 2016
View Images
Illustration by Brosmind
Illustrations by Brosmind
When it comes to quirky food festivals, America stands united. Our
cross-country map of state-by-state cuisine celebrations, adapted from
National Geographic's new book, Great American Eating Experiences,
takes you from Massachusett's fluffernutter fest to a garlic gathering
in California (breath mints recommended). Plan a food-filled road trip
to follow the locals to these top festivals highlighting regional
specialities.
Alabama
The Peanut Boil Festival
in Luverne includes much more than fresh goobers every September. Go
nuts for the arts and crafts, beauty pageant, car show, and live music.
Alaska
Every May, the Kodiak Crab Festival
celebrates one of Alaska’s most sought-after food items over five days
of bacchanal, with cooking demonstrations by Alaska chefs using locally
harvested seafood and wild greens.
Arizona
Everything you always wanted to know about lettuce is the focus of Yuma Lettuce Days,
which unfolds each February at the University of Arizona Agriculture
Center. A fresh-from-the-field salad bar featuring locally grown head,
leaf, and romaine lettuce is one of the main attractions, but the leafy
shindig also boasts cooking demonstrations, live music, and lectures.
Arkansas
Munch on a big and crunchy fried dill and watch, or better yet, enter the contests at Atkins Picklefest held each May. Locals find the power to inhale sour during the pickle-eating or pickle-juice drinking challenges.
California
Once misunderstood (too ethnic!) or even reviled (stinky!), the boldly flavored Allium sativum
has come a long way to become an essential part of the American pantry.
And no place in America wears its garlic pride like the agricultural
city of Gilroy, the self-proclaimed “garlic capital of the world,”
during the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival when dozens of vendors spare no flavor.
Colorado
The Great American Beer Festival
in Denver allows visitors the chance to sample thousands of American
craft beers. Judges separate the best suds from the duds during this
three-day annual event held every fall.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s annual Milford Oyster Festival
celebrates the wealth of East Coast oysters, harvested from Maine to
Virginia. But the choicest of the 30,000 oysters (and clams) served on
the half shell at this August event are those marked with a “CT.”
Delaware
Bridgeville, Delaware, home to the nation’s largest producer, RAPA Scrapple, goes all out with its annual Apple Scrapple Festival
each October. Find all-you-can-eat scrapple breakfasts, scrapple
carving, and scrapple chunkin’—a shot put–style contest where
participants fling packages of scrapple as far as they can.
District of Columbia
Truckeroo
is a monthly festival held April through October at the corner of Half
Street and M Street SE, across from the Navy Yard metro station. It
brings together more than 20 food trucks for a full day of live music,
games, and tasty eats.
Florida
The annual Key Lime Festival
in Key West around July 4 includes pie cooking demonstrations and
competitions and the requisite key lime pie–eating contest. Plus,
there’s ample opportunity to sample the goods along with key lime
cocktails and locally distilled key lime rum.
Georgia
Held every June in Peach County, the weeklong Georgia Peach Festival
includes the baking—and eating—of the world’s largest peach cobbler.
The 11-by-5-foot dessert uses 75 gallons of fresh peaches. Festival
events are held in Peach County’s two cities, Fort Valley and Byron.
Hawaii
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
takes place over 10 days in early November of each year, highlighting
the region’s long coffee and cultural heritage. Daily coffee tastings,
art strolls, and tours of working coffee farms are worth the buzz.
Idaho
Potato sack races, tuber tosses, tugs-of-war over a potato “mash pit,” and the Miss Russet beauty contest highlight September’s Idaho Spud Day in Shelley, on the banks of the Snake River.
Illinois
The Southern Illinois river town of Golconda throws a jumbo-size Shrimp Festival
each September for sustainably farmed shrimp. Find cornhole
tournaments, a Little Miss Shrimp pageant, and enough shrimp dishes to
satisfy anyone's appetite.
Indiana
Persimmon passion peaks every year in September during the fruit’s namesake festival
in Mitchell, Indiana. Expect a seriously small-town scene, complete
with a parade, a candlelight tour of the town’s historic area, and the
persimmon pudding competition.
Iowa
Bacon lovers rejoice at the Des Moines Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival every February. Go whole hog with lectures, eating competitions, and sizzling live entertainment.
Kansas
Proclaimed the “Spinach Capital of the
World” during the 1930s, the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa celebrates the
leafy green with a family-oriented Spinach Festival
in September. Participants try to outdo their record for the largest
spinach salad or pose for photo ops with Popeye and Olive Oyl.
Kentucky
The World Chicken Festival
held each September in London honors Laurel County’s fried fowl
heritage, since Kentucky Fried Chicken was invented nearby. Some 7,000
festival chicken dinners are fried annually in what’s billed as the
world’s largest stainless steel skillet: a 700-pound pan that can cook
600 chicken quarters at a time.
Louisiana
November’s Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
in Uptown New Orleans attracts nearly 60,000 sandwich lovers and more
than 40 vendors selling a dizzying array of delicious po’boys stuffed
with everything from German goulash to fried Maine lobster.
Maine
August’s blueberry harvest is a statewide celebration, but the Wilton Blueberry Festival
is really top of the pick. The two-day event serves up pancake
breakfasts, blueberry cook-offs, and plenty of pies to take home.
Maryland
Spice things up at the Old Bay Festival
in Cockeysvile held in June. The state's signature flavor is showcased
through competitions for the best seasoned dish and crab races.
Massachusetts
Don’t miss the annual September What the Fluff?
festival in Somerville’s Union Square, where the gooey treat was
invented. A marshmallow toss, musical performances, and the ultimate
fluffernutter sandwiches are sure to stick.
Michigan
In early July, the eight-day National Cherry Festival
attracts half a million people to Traverse City for events like the
Cherry Pie Bike Ride (all participants get a free slice of cherry pie),
orchard tours, cherry pie–eating contests, and the Make & Bake
cherry pie workshop for children.
Minnesota
Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, Minnesota, hosts a Native American–focused Wild Rice Festival
each September where visitors can feast on wild rice pancakes,
sausages, and “four sisters” soup made with corn, squash, beans, and
wild rice.
Mississippi
The World Catfish Festival
in Belzoni each April celebrates the city’s 1976 title as “farm-raised
catfish capital of the world.” Events include a catfish fry, live blues
and gospel music, and a catfish-eating contest.
Missouri
More than 600 teams vie every October to be top pitmaster at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue
in Kansas City, Missouri. Juried categories cover everything from best
sauce to best brisket, plus live entertainment and fireworks.
Montana
Pancake breakfasts and dessert contests are just part of the huckleberry-centric fun at the Trout Creek Huckleberry Festival each August. The community gathers for a parade, horseshoe contests, and dancing under the stars.
Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska, puts on a sweet face to celebrate their invention of the flavored drink mix during Kool-Aid Days in August. Discover collectible exhibits, photo ops with the Man, drinking contests, and the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand.
Nevada
The culture and heritage of Greece shines at the annual Las Vegas Greek Food Festival in September. Attendees can join traditional dances to work off the gyros, souvlaki, and baklava served in abundance.
New Hampshire
The mid-October Milford Pumpkin Festival
is the destination for all things pumpkin: the pumpkin weigh-in
(winners top 1,300 pounds), the pumpkin catapult, the pumpkin lighting,
and, of course, the pumpkin pie competition.
New Jersey
Trenton recently inaugurated the annual Pork Roll Festival
to celebrate its unique culinary contribution. Vendors sell their
favorite pork roll creations against a background of live music.
New Mexico
One of the best places to buy (and try) a wide variety of locally grown hot things is the Viva New Mexico Chile Festival
in Los Lunas. In addition to a salsa contest and chili cook-off, the
three-day event invites chili farmers to vend their green and red
treasures at numerous stalls around the festival grounds.
New York
Lyons, in upstate New York, honors its sweet history as a main producer of peppermint oil during Peppermint Days every July. Families find tractor shows, historic tours, and amusement rides during the festival weekend.
North Carolina
Agriculture takes center stage at the Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival in May, with pig races and barbecue cook-offs. Hundreds of vendors gather around carnival rides and live entertainment.
North Dakota
Dust off your horned helmet and bring a Viking-size appetite if you’re heading to the Norsk Høstfest
in Minot, which runs late September through early October. The five-day
celebration includes concerts, dancing, and even a folk school teaching
traditional crafts, but the biggest draw is the food since one third of
North Dakotans have roots in Norway.
Ohio
The annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival
is held each September in Albany, Ohio, just 20 miles from the border
with West Virginia. The three-day fete features creative culinary
inventions like pawpaw mustard, pawpaw tamales, and even pawpaw wheat
beer.
Oklahoma
Tiny Bristow is a long way from Beirut,
but it has been home to a large population of Lebanese immigrants for
more than a century. Every May they celebrate Lebanon’s signature salad
at the Tabouleh Fest, complete with a Miss Tabouleh pageant, belly dancers, and an all-you-can-eat Lebanese lunch prepared by local churches.
Oregon
Berry lovers rejoice in downtown Portland during July with the Oregon Berry Festival
in full swing to highlight one of oldest berry industries in the
country. Blackberry pies compete for top prize, a city celebrity chef
hosts a gala dinner, and musicians jam out for the occasion.
Pennsylvania
A party for bean soup is not as odd as it sounds, since the McClure Bean Soup Festival
held in September traces its roots to practical dinners organized by
Civil War soldiers. Now baking contests, horse shows, and garden tractor
pulls bring the community together.
Rhode Island
Clam chowder takes many forms from creamy
New England style to the tomato-based soup in New York. Vistitors can
taste them all during the Block Island Chowda' Fest in May, when island restaurants compete for the best bowl and a year of bragging rights.
South Carolina
The World Grits Festival
held each April in St. George celebrates the small town’s collective
appetite for grits. According to the locals, more grits are consumed per
capita here than anywhere else in the world. The event includes the
opportunity to roll in grits because . . . why not?
South Dakota
First buffalo are coralled in Custer State Park. Then local cooks compete during the Buffalo Wallow Chili Cook-Off taking place every October, with plenty of sampling opportunities for visitors.
Tennessee
The International Biscuit Festival
and the aroma of fresh-baked biscuits draws more than 20,000 people
into downtown Knoxville each May. Biscuit-based events include a contest
with several categories, including sweet and savory, and samples for
nibbling.
Texas
A 10-day salute to sausage takes place in November during the Wurstfest in New Braunfels. The fun links to the area's German heritage with plenty of beer and cheer.
Utah
Contests to choose the best funeral potatoes are a staple of the Utah State Fair,
held every September in Salt Lake City. The annual 11-day festival
starting after Labor Day on historic fairgrounds also promises best in
show livestock, clowns, and deep-fried delicacies.
Vermont
The annual Vermont Maple Festival,
held in St. Albans in late April, is a celebration of all things maple—
including the end of the hectic sugaring season—with syrup tastings
and, of course, a pancake breakfast.
Virginia
The small town of Alberta in Brunswick County, Virginia, hosts the annual Taste of Brunswick Festival
in October. You can taste the entries from its Brunswick Stew Cook-Off,
held every fall at the 17th Street Farmers Market, where you can buy
sample- or quart-size portions of stew from different makers.
Washington
Held each fall on the grounds of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, the three-day Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
celebrates the return of the salmon to the sea from their freshwater
spawning grounds. A collaborative project of Native American tribes
throughout the Northwest showcases traditional fishing and cooking of
salmon as well as storytelling and handicrafts.
West Virginia
Each year, around 100,000 people descend upon the small town of Kingwood during the final weekend of September for the Preston County Buckwheat Festival,
including three parades, the coronation of King Buckwheat and Queen
Ceres (goddess of agriculture), and endless stacks of buckwheat
pancakes. These aren’t your ordinary flapjacks.
Wisconsin
The kolache, a pastry pillow or pocket
stuffed with a sweet, gooey poppy seed or fruit filling, originated in
Bohemia and is now popular in places where Czech migrants settled in
America. The Agricultural Heritage Farm in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, hosts a
summer Czech & Kolache Festival that includes polka, beer—and, of course, lots of kolache.
Wyoming
Elk antlers are collected from the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole to get the festivities started during the May Elkfest. Then a chili cook-off ensues, surrounded by auctions and conservation tours.
When it comes to quirky food festivals, America stands united. Our
cross-country map of state-by-state cuisine celebrations, adapted from
National Geographic's new book, Great American Eating Experiences,
takes you from Massachusett's fluffernutter fest to a garlic gathering
in California (breath mints recommended). Plan a food-filled road trip
to follow the locals to these top festivals highlighting regional
specialities.
Alabama
The Peanut Boil Festival
in Luverne includes much more than fresh goobers every September. Go
nuts for the arts and crafts, beauty pageant, car show, and live music.
Alaska
Every May, the Kodiak Crab Festival
celebrates one of Alaska’s most sought-after food items over five days
of bacchanal, with cooking demonstrations by Alaska chefs using locally
harvested seafood and wild greens.
Arizona
Everything you always wanted to know about lettuce is the focus of Yuma Lettuce Days,
which unfolds each February at the University of Arizona Agriculture
Center. A fresh-from-the-field salad bar featuring locally grown head,
leaf, and romaine lettuce is one of the main attractions, but the leafy
shindig also boasts cooking demonstrations, live music, and lectures.
Arkansas
Munch on a big and crunchy fried dill and watch, or better yet, enter the contests at Atkins Picklefest held each May. Locals find the power to inhale sour during the pickle-eating or pickle-juice drinking challenges.
California
Once misunderstood (too ethnic!) or even reviled (stinky!), the boldly flavored Allium sativum
has come a long way to become an essential part of the American pantry.
And no place in America wears its garlic pride like the agricultural
city of Gilroy, the self-proclaimed “garlic capital of the world,”
during the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival when dozens of vendors spare no flavor.
Colorado
The Great American Beer Festival
in Denver allows visitors the chance to sample thousands of American
craft beers. Judges separate the best suds from the duds during this
three-day annual event held every fall.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s annual Milford Oyster Festival
celebrates the wealth of East Coast oysters, harvested from Maine to
Virginia. But the choicest of the 30,000 oysters (and clams) served on
the half shell at this August event are those marked with a “CT.”
Delaware
Bridgeville, Delaware, home to the nation’s largest producer, RAPA Scrapple, goes all out with its annual Apple Scrapple Festival
each October. Find all-you-can-eat scrapple breakfasts, scrapple
carving, and scrapple chunkin’—a shot put–style contest where
participants fling packages of scrapple as far as they can.
District of Columbia
Truckeroo
is a monthly festival held April through October at the corner of Half
Street and M Street SE, across from the Navy Yard metro station. It
brings together more than 20 food trucks for a full day of live music,
games, and tasty eats.
Florida
The annual Key Lime Festival
in Key West around July 4 includes pie cooking demonstrations and
competitions and the requisite key lime pie–eating contest. Plus,
there’s ample opportunity to sample the goods along with key lime
cocktails and locally distilled key lime rum.
Georgia
Held every June in Peach County, the weeklong Georgia Peach Festival
includes the baking—and eating—of the world’s largest peach cobbler.
The 11-by-5-foot dessert uses 75 gallons of fresh peaches. Festival
events are held in Peach County’s two cities, Fort Valley and Byron.
Hawaii
The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
takes place over 10 days in early November of each year, highlighting
the region’s long coffee and cultural heritage. Daily coffee tastings,
art strolls, and tours of working coffee farms are worth the buzz.
Idaho
Potato sack races, tuber tosses, tugs-of-war over a potato “mash pit,” and the Miss Russet beauty contest highlight September’s Idaho Spud Day in Shelley, on the banks of the Snake River.
Illinois
The Southern Illinois river town of Golconda throws a jumbo-size Shrimp Festival
each September for sustainably farmed shrimp. Find cornhole
tournaments, a Little Miss Shrimp pageant, and enough shrimp dishes to
satisfy anyone's appetite.
Indiana
Persimmon passion peaks every year in September during the fruit’s namesake festival
in Mitchell, Indiana. Expect a seriously small-town scene, complete
with a parade, a candlelight tour of the town’s historic area, and the
persimmon pudding competition.
Iowa
Bacon lovers rejoice at the Des Moines Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival every February. Go whole hog with lectures, eating competitions, and sizzling live entertainment.
Kansas
Proclaimed the “Spinach Capital of the
World” during the 1930s, the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa celebrates the
leafy green with a family-oriented Spinach Festival
in September. Participants try to outdo their record for the largest
spinach salad or pose for photo ops with Popeye and Olive Oyl.
Kentucky
The World Chicken Festival
held each September in London honors Laurel County’s fried fowl
heritage, since Kentucky Fried Chicken was invented nearby. Some 7,000
festival chicken dinners are fried annually in what’s billed as the
world’s largest stainless steel skillet: a 700-pound pan that can cook
600 chicken quarters at a time.
Louisiana
November’s Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
in Uptown New Orleans attracts nearly 60,000 sandwich lovers and more
than 40 vendors selling a dizzying array of delicious po’boys stuffed
with everything from German goulash to fried Maine lobster.
Maine
August’s blueberry harvest is a statewide celebration, but the Wilton Blueberry Festival
is really top of the pick. The two-day event serves up pancake
breakfasts, blueberry cook-offs, and plenty of pies to take home.
Maryland
Spice things up at the Old Bay Festival
in Cockeysvile held in June. The state's signature flavor is showcased
through competitions for the best seasoned dish and crab races.
Massachusetts
Don’t miss the annual September What the Fluff?
festival in Somerville’s Union Square, where the gooey treat was
invented. A marshmallow toss, musical performances, and the ultimate
fluffernutter sandwiches are sure to stick.
Michigan
In early July, the eight-day National Cherry Festival
attracts half a million people to Traverse City for events like the
Cherry Pie Bike Ride (all participants get a free slice of cherry pie),
orchard tours, cherry pie–eating contests, and the Make & Bake
cherry pie workshop for children.
Minnesota
Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, Minnesota, hosts a Native American–focused Wild Rice Festival
each September where visitors can feast on wild rice pancakes,
sausages, and “four sisters” soup made with corn, squash, beans, and
wild rice.
Mississippi
The World Catfish Festival
in Belzoni each April celebrates the city’s 1976 title as “farm-raised
catfish capital of the world.” Events include a catfish fry, live blues
and gospel music, and a catfish-eating contest.
Missouri
More than 600 teams vie every October to be top pitmaster at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue
in Kansas City, Missouri. Juried categories cover everything from best
sauce to best brisket, plus live entertainment and fireworks.
Montana
Pancake breakfasts and dessert contests are just part of the huckleberry-centric fun at the Trout Creek Huckleberry Festival each August. The community gathers for a parade, horseshoe contests, and dancing under the stars.
Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska, puts on a sweet face to celebrate their invention of the flavored drink mix during Kool-Aid Days in August. Discover collectible exhibits, photo ops with the Man, drinking contests, and the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand.
Nevada
The culture and heritage of Greece shines at the annual Las Vegas Greek Food Festival in September. Attendees can join traditional dances to work off the gyros, souvlaki, and baklava served in abundance.
New Hampshire
The mid-October Milford Pumpkin Festival
is the destination for all things pumpkin: the pumpkin weigh-in
(winners top 1,300 pounds), the pumpkin catapult, the pumpkin lighting,
and, of course, the pumpkin pie competition.
New Jersey
Trenton recently inaugurated the annual Pork Roll Festival
to celebrate its unique culinary contribution. Vendors sell their
favorite pork roll creations against a background of live music.
New Mexico
One of the best places to buy (and try) a wide variety of locally grown hot things is the Viva New Mexico Chile Festival
in Los Lunas. In addition to a salsa contest and chili cook-off, the
three-day event invites chili farmers to vend their green and red
treasures at numerous stalls around the festival grounds.
New York
Lyons, in upstate New York, honors its sweet history as a main producer of peppermint oil during Peppermint Days every July. Families find tractor shows, historic tours, and amusement rides during the festival weekend.
North Carolina
Agriculture takes center stage at the Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival in May, with pig races and barbecue cook-offs. Hundreds of vendors gather around carnival rides and live entertainment.
North Dakota
Dust off your horned helmet and bring a Viking-size appetite if you’re heading to the Norsk Høstfest
in Minot, which runs late September through early October. The five-day
celebration includes concerts, dancing, and even a folk school teaching
traditional crafts, but the biggest draw is the food since one third of
North Dakotans have roots in Norway.
Ohio
The annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival
is held each September in Albany, Ohio, just 20 miles from the border
with West Virginia. The three-day fete features creative culinary
inventions like pawpaw mustard, pawpaw tamales, and even pawpaw wheat
beer.
Oklahoma
Tiny Bristow is a long way from Beirut,
but it has been home to a large population of Lebanese immigrants for
more than a century. Every May they celebrate Lebanon’s signature salad
at the Tabouleh Fest, complete with a Miss Tabouleh pageant, belly dancers, and an all-you-can-eat Lebanese lunch prepared by local churches.
Oregon
Berry lovers rejoice in downtown Portland during July with the Oregon Berry Festival
in full swing to highlight one of oldest berry industries in the
country. Blackberry pies compete for top prize, a city celebrity chef
hosts a gala dinner, and musicians jam out for the occasion.
Pennsylvania
A party for bean soup is not as odd as it sounds, since the McClure Bean Soup Festival
held in September traces its roots to practical dinners organized by
Civil War soldiers. Now baking contests, horse shows, and garden tractor
pulls bring the community together.
Rhode Island
Clam chowder takes many forms from creamy
New England style to the tomato-based soup in New York. Vistitors can
taste them all during the Block Island Chowda' Fest in May, when island restaurants compete for the best bowl and a year of bragging rights.
South Carolina
The World Grits Festival
held each April in St. George celebrates the small town’s collective
appetite for grits. According to the locals, more grits are consumed per
capita here than anywhere else in the world. The event includes the
opportunity to roll in grits because . . . why not?
South Dakota
First buffalo are coralled in Custer State Park. Then local cooks compete during the Buffalo Wallow Chili Cook-Off taking place every October, with plenty of sampling opportunities for visitors.
Tennessee
The International Biscuit Festival
and the aroma of fresh-baked biscuits draws more than 20,000 people
into downtown Knoxville each May. Biscuit-based events include a contest
with several categories, including sweet and savory, and samples for
nibbling.
Texas
A 10-day salute to sausage takes place in November during the Wurstfest in New Braunfels. The fun links to the area's German heritage with plenty of beer and cheer.
Utah
Contests to choose the best funeral potatoes are a staple of the Utah State Fair,
held every September in Salt Lake City. The annual 11-day festival
starting after Labor Day on historic fairgrounds also promises best in
show livestock, clowns, and deep-fried delicacies.
Vermont
The annual Vermont Maple Festival,
held in St. Albans in late April, is a celebration of all things maple—
including the end of the hectic sugaring season—with syrup tastings
and, of course, a pancake breakfast.
Virginia
The small town of Alberta in Brunswick County, Virginia, hosts the annual Taste of Brunswick Festival
in October. You can taste the entries from its Brunswick Stew Cook-Off,
held every fall at the 17th Street Farmers Market, where you can buy
sample- or quart-size portions of stew from different makers.
Washington
Held each fall on the grounds of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, the three-day Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
celebrates the return of the salmon to the sea from their freshwater
spawning grounds. A collaborative project of Native American tribes
throughout the Northwest showcases traditional fishing and cooking of
salmon as well as storytelling and handicrafts.
West Virginia
Each year, around 100,000 people descend upon the small town of Kingwood during the final weekend of September for the Preston County Buckwheat Festival,
including three parades, the coronation of King Buckwheat and Queen
Ceres (goddess of agriculture), and endless stacks of buckwheat
pancakes. These aren’t your ordinary flapjacks.
Wisconsin
The kolache, a pastry pillow or pocket
stuffed with a sweet, gooey poppy seed or fruit filling, originated in
Bohemia and is now popular in places where Czech migrants settled in
America. The Agricultural Heritage Farm in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, hosts a
summer Czech & Kolache Festival that includes polka, beer—and, of course, lots of kolache.
Wyoming
Elk antlers are collected from the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole to get the festivities started during the May Elkfest. Then a chili cook-off ensues, surrounded by auctions and conservation tours.
