Raleigh festival makes national list of 'wacky' events

The list from TripAdvisor.com was released Tuesday and includes events that were hand-picked for their fun and affordability.

BugFest shares the list with Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Ind., the Wayne (Neb.) Chicken Show, the National Lentil Festival in Pullman, Wash., and the Internet Cat Video Festival in St. Paul, Minn.

“Travelers looking to blow off some steam this summer without breaking the bank can enjoy these zany events that celebrate the offbeat and creative spirit of America,” Brooke Ferencsik, communications director at TripAdvisor, said in a statement.

BugFest is free and draws thousands to downtown Raleigh for insect-themed fun for adults and children. The event includes Café Insecta, where adults and children can sample bugs dishes cooked up by local chefs.

“All of us at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are absolutely thrilled that BugFest is among TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Wacky U.S. Summer Events,” said Emelia Cowans, assistant communications director for the museum. “As the museum’s largest event of the year, crowds of more than 30,000 embark on downtown Raleigh to enjoy a full day of turning their fears into fascination.”