38th annual Woolly Worm Race
October 17 & 18 — 3rd weekend of October every year
Banner Elk, North Carolina, a quaint mountain town
People who have been to this event speak of “the absurd euphoria when watching woolly worms racing up a string” — safe excitement indeed.
Races begin 9:30 a.m. and continue all day until the grand final 4 p.m. The worms race in heats of 25 worms.
The winning worm on Saturday is declared the official winter forecaster. The Sunday worm races are for prestige, fun, and small prizes.
The color of the worm’s thirteen body segments forecast the severity of upcoming winter. Reported accuracy rates range from 80 to 85%..
15,000 to -20,000 people attend the festival.
No pets except woolly worms are allowed.
