If you're looking for a true taste of Americana, these small towns oblige. Once a year, their borders swell and they roll out the welcome mat as they put on a display that is unique to their locale. From cow chip tossing to jumping frogs to a re-enactment of the most famous battle of the civil war, you're sure to find a quirky fest that's just right for you.

Every October, more than a quarter million visitors head to Alabama's Gulf Shores to indulge in their share of the region's finest export: Gulf Shrimp. When it was founded in 1971, the National Shrimp Festival was designed to encourage visitors to visit the beach after Labor Day. Nowadays, however, the festival is a top draw for foodies the world over.

Forget crossing the pond, the best place to find Shakespeare is in Ashland, Oregon, population 21,000. The annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which runs from February through October, is about so much more than the bard. There are three stages, which feature everything from Shakespeare's finest works to indie productions to blockbuster musical theatre. Plan-in advance-to visit during the Fourth of July to combine top-notch theatre performances with a true taste of Americana.

Go frog wild for this internationally known festival inspired by Mark Twain. Unfolding the third weekend in May, the Calaveras County Fair & Frog Jumping Jubilee, which takes place in California's historic Gold Country, is the longest-running county fair in California. Champion jumpers are brought in from around the state, but casual visitors can also head to the frog spa to borrow a contestant for the day. The event is about much more than jumping frogs however, so be sure to visit the livestock and tasty treats on display at the county fair.

Located about 30 minutes south of San Jose, California, Gilroy (pop. 55,000) is well-known as an incredible rest stop on the drive to Southern California. But this city, the leading producer of garlic in the nation, swells every July when it pulls out all the stops for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. Entering its 40^th year in 2018, the festival highlight is Gourmet Alley, where "Pyro Chefs" set the culinary scene of ire, as they prepare garlic-laced calamari and scampi in huge iron skillets. There are plenty of other culinary wonders to explore, including the only-in-Gilroy garlic ice cream.

What happens when your most famous resident is a cryogenically frozen dead guy? For the folks in Nederland, Colorado, it was a good excuse to turn the cooler days of March into Frozen Dead Guy Days. Also called the "Cryonics' first Mardi Gras," the annual festival includes such oddities as zombie revelers, a mini film fest featuring scenes about funerals and cremation, and even an ice turkey bowling contest. Be sure to come early, you wouldn't want to miss the Parade of Coffin Racers and Hearses.

Unfolding in the Florida Keys' Big Pine Key, the Underwater Music Festival is living proof that not all music festivals are created equal. Scheduled for the Saturday after July 4^th, the festival's coolest aspect is that it is designed to draw attention to coral reef preservation, with broadcasts offering divers tips on how to minimize their impact on the world's oceans.

That aside, visitors can rent passage at the local dive shops on some of the hundreds of boats that converge at Looe Key, which is part of the continental United States' only living coral barrier reef.

No, you're not seeing double. But the annual Twins Day Festival which unfolds every August in Twinsburgh, Ohio, is the largest gathering of twins-and multiples-in the world. This year's event encourages twins to dress up as their favorite classic video game characters or draw inspiration from classic board and card games, so expect a rollicking good time.

There aren't many small towns more famous than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (pop. 7,700). As the site of a major turning point during the Civil War, Gettysburg can't help but end up in history books the world over. In the present day, however, the city might be equally famous for its annual Gettysburg Civil War Re-Enactment, now in its 155^th year. The yearly event, which unfolds in early May, attracts tens of thousands of re-enactors and hundreds of thousands of spectators, who witness history unfolding in a step-by-step re-play of the famous battle.

Located off the shores of Corpus Christi, Port Aransas (or "Port A" as it's known to locals) is one of the longest barrier islands along the Texas coast. Because of its excellent beaches, it has also become the home of Texas SandFest, the largest Native-Sand Sand Sculpture Competition in the United States. Once you're done filling your Instagram feed with the works of some of the world's top sand sculptors, be sure to stick around for live music and some Texas-style eats.

Moooo-ve over county fair, the best ag-fest is the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival, where the tagline is "no gloves, licking your hand is allowed to get a better grip." For this festival, the cow pie needs to be at least six inches in diameter. Top competitors have sent their missiles traveling more than 170 feet. Once participants are done with the most pop-poo-lar event, there is also a parade, a food court and a fine arts and crafts fair to explore.