Texas knows how to throw a festival. And within the vast Colorado River watershed — stretching from the dusty plains of West Texas to the lush Gulf Coast — there’s no shortage of oddball celebrations that perfectly capture the charm, pride, and humor of small-town life.

Here are just a few of the wildest:

World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off – Brady, TX

Brady calls itself the ‘Heart of Texas,’ and every Labor Day it becomes the belly of Texas too, with its legendary World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off. Pitmasters come from all over to grill up cabrito and compete in a cook-off so Texan it practically comes with a side of gravel dust and cold beer.

Strawberry Festival – Poteet, TX

Okay, it’s a bit southeast of the river’s reach, but Poteet’s Strawberry Festival is iconic. A mashup of carnival, concert, rodeo, and strawberry-everything glory, it’s one of the oldest and most beloved fruit festivals in the state and takes place every April.

World’s Largest Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup – Sweetwater, TX

Rattlesnakes and wranglers converge in Sweetwater, bringing together hunting demonstrations, educational talks, and more snakes in one place than most folks see in a lifetime. Starting in the 1950s as a way to tackle snake infestations, this event takes place yearly on the 2nd weekend in March.

Great Texas Mosquito Festival – Clute, TX

Yes, mosquitoes. Clute has embraced its swampy, buggy coastal roots and made the mosquito a mascot. With a massive mosquito costume named Willie-Man-Chew, a carnival, cook-offs, and mosquito-calling contests, this is peak Texas weirdness.

Bay City Camo and Wine Fest – Bay City, TX

Part hunting-season kickoff, part fashion show for camo everything. In Bay City, the camo runs deep — in clothing, trucks, house decor, and even dessert categories. This annual event highlights this coastal community as the “gateway to the great outdoors.”

Bonus Weirdness

Need more? Luling Watermelon Thump (seed-spitting championships!), Elgin Hogeye Festival, Austin Eeyore’s Birthday Party, La Grange’s Best Little Cowboy Gathering.