Looking for somewhere wacky to have a good time? Festivals, no matter how kooky, bring out the best in creativity. A festivalgoer can celebrate animals, insects, fo­ods, historical events, and just about any other topic under the sun. It's easy to fill your calendar with events, just check out these examples.

1. Frozen Dead Guy Days (Nederland, Colorado)

The fun at the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival heats up Nederland during Colorado's typically frosty March. The fest commemorates a cryogenically-preserved Norwegian who has been kept in a shed by his grandson since 1994. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed as a frozen or dead character to a dance tagged "Grandpa's Blue Ball." Coffin races and a parade featuring antique hearses are among the liveliest attractions, along with salmon tossing and a frozen beach volleyball tournament. The event started in 2002 and annually attracts about 7,000 visitors.

© Freer Chamber of Commerce Snakes are the highlight at the Rattlesnake Roundup.

2. Secret City Festival (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)

The annual Secret City Festival highlights the important role Oak Ridge played in World War II. In the 1940s, researchers there developed the top secret atomic bomb -- hence the city's nickname -- and today visitors can tour Manhattan Project sites to see where the bomb was devised. One of the country's largest World War II reenactments is also a popular draw, with roaring tanks, motorcycles, and other vintage military gear. Each June, the event draws about 20,000 people to Oak Ridge, which is nestled between the picturesque Cumberland and Great Smoky Mountains.

3. Nanaimo Marine Festival (Nanaimo, British Columbia)

At the Nanaimo Marine Festival held in mid-July, up to 200 "tubbers" compete in the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race across a 36-mile course. Using just about any conceivable watercraft, most of which at least vaguely resemble a bathtub, contestants must make it to Vancouver's Fisherman's Cove across the Straits of Georgia. The first race was held in 1967 and activities have expanded since to include a food fair, craft show, Kiddies' Karnival, and waiters' race.

Find information on more quirky festivals on the next page.