Weird and wonderful - The Great Lakes of North America

Whilst most people may be familiar with the regular festivities such as St. Patrick’s Day or America's Thanksgiving Parade that take place across the Great Lakes of North America, here are some of their lesser known counterparts well worth a visit!

Roughly the same size as Europe, the North American region is made up of the seven States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Below is a list of quirky and unusual events that need to be ‘seen to be believed’ for visitors looking to make their travels a memorable one!

Pennsylvania
IceFest, 31st January – 3rd February, Icefestpa.com
This year marks the 6th annual IceFest festival in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania featuring sixty-plus ice scultpures as the backdrop for a four-day array of events. This year's "Winter Wonderland" theme promises sparkling icy magic and family-friendly fun for everyone including spectacles such as live sculpture carving. Carvers wield chain saws, propane torches and hand tools, transorming massive blocks of ice into an array of giant masterpieces. Visitors are reminded to bring their camera to capture the ICE-citement of the event!

Minnesota
Grumpy Old Men Festival, 23 February, Wabashamn.org
The small town of Wabasha in Minnesota is best known for its Grumpy Old Men Festival. The festival is based on the 1993 hit film "Grumpy Old Men," which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margaret. Screenwriter Mark Steven Johnson based the script on the life of his grandfather, who lived in Wabasha, but none of the film was actually shot in Wabasha because there were not enough hotels for the crew to stay in!

In the film, Max (Matthau) and John (Lemmon) go ice fishing a lot; they wear those silly, ear-flapped plaid caps and spend a lot of time glowering at each other. Among the festival events for visitors to get involved in are contests for ice fishing and most colourful ice fishing shanty. Other events include sleigh and wagon rides around Wabasha, a pushcart store full of "Grumpy Old Men" buttons, T-shirts, hats, a spaghetti dinner at Slippery's and live music from a top country music band.

Illinois
Venetian Night, 26th July, Gochicago.com
Celebrating its 50th year anniversary this year, Venetian Night takes place on Chicago’s beautiful lakefront in Illinois. The highlight of the show has to be the waterside parade on Lake Michigan involving approximately 35 decorated boats lit up with extravagant light displays and skippered by costumed crews. Other events and entertainment at the event for visitors to enjoy include live music and a spectacular fireworks display. First taking place in 1958, this is one of the oldest events in the city attracting over 650,000 visitors to Lake Michigan each year.

Indiana
14th Frankfort Hot Dog Festival, 25th – 26th July, Indianafestivals.org
When the name of the town is Frankfort, it’s only natural that a festival is thrown in honour of the frankfurter or what is more commonly known in the US as the ‘Hot Dog’. The 14thFrankfort Hot Dog Festival, which takes place on the 25th and 26th July, features activities such as the Great Wiener Cook-off, arts and crafts, a hot dog eating contest, three on three tournaments, car show, flee run and the infamous ‘Bun Run’!

Wisconsin
Harley-Davidson Museum, Summer 2008 (tbc) H-dmuseum.com
Steel beams and sheets of glass are evidence that the much-anticipated opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum is on schedule for the summer of 2008. The new museum will be the legendary motorcycle manufacturer’s showcase and gift to its loyal following of passionate riders. Not just a bricks and mortar tribute to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, it will also be a gathering place for up to 15,000 riders with its park-like setting on the grounds overlooking Milwaukee’s Menominee River.

Among the exhibits expected are motorcycles from Harley-Davidson’s collection of more than 400 vehicles, Elvis Presley’s 1956 Harley-Davidson KH motorcycle; and the famous “King Kong.” a customized 13 foot-long bike; and of course, a Series One motorcycle that came off the assembly line 1903. Three buildings will house the museum, restaurant, gift shops and a special event space equipped to handle up to 1,050 people.

Ohio
Twins Day Festival, 3rd – 5th August,Twinsdays.org
Visitors to the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio can rest assured that they're not seeing double! The small town of Twinsburg plays tribute to its namesake by holding the "World's Largest Annual Gathering of Twins!" 2008 marks the 31st year of celebrating the unique bond of twins, triplets, quads and so on whilst honoring Twinsburg's very own identical twins – Moses and Aaron Wilcox – early settlers of Twinsburg.

More than two thousand sets of twins register each year for the contests, talent shows, parade and other events that makes this weekend such a ‘two-of-a-kind’ event!

Michigan
Trenton Scarecrow Festival, 5th – 7th October, Scarecrowfestival.net
The Trenton Scarecrow Festival in the town of Trenton is one of the best of its kind in the Southeast Michigan area. The festival is a family event for all ages and includes autumnal based activities such as a Scarecrow Contest, a karaoke Scarecrow Idol contest, a Dog Costume contest, children's area with games and rides, a carnival, local and national musical acts and many other events.

For further information on the Great Lakes of North America visit: Greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk