Offbeat summer festivals 2009

From Elvis Week to Headless Chicken Days, a look at the country's weirdest summer festivals

Admit it: You love horseradish, have a secret passion for mermaids and only eat ketchup from 170 ft. bottles. So why waste the few precious months a year you're not cooped up indoors by hitting up the same old beach (snoozefest!), catching up on summer reading (boresville!) or spending time with your family (nerd alert!)?

This country was built on quirky summer festivals, and with choice offerings ranging from the International Horseradish Festival to Mike the Headless Chicken Days, this summer's got plenty of offbeat fests to delight, entertain and utterly confuse.