Art, obsession, and identity
A group of Abraham Lincoln impersonators meet up every year, accompanied by a few Mary Todds, and retrace the former President's footsteps around Columbus, visiting the locations where he spoke, stood, and lay. You know, just for fun.
They're a historical appreciation society that likes to get hands-on with their appreciation. If you've got the look, flaunt it?
While the name might lead you to believe it's a celebration of all things egg, it actually revolves around a specific brand of barbecue grill that has inspired a serious cult following. The Big Green Egg grill has been in production since 1974 and, in an act of appreciation, the annual event involves grilling competitions, product demonstrations, and a lot of eating. Doesn't sound so ridiculous now, does it?
There are Elvis conventions all around the world these days, filled with people dressing up like the King—from young G.I. Elvis to old and bloated peanut-butter-jelly-bacon Elvis.
Furries often insist it isn't the hyper-sexual obsession that many people perceive it to be, but rather it's a way for people to be themselves, with a specific "fursona" that just so happens to be a giant fox.
This four-day mass gathering of famous people's lookalikes revolves around several "showcases" of each impersonator's talents and is open to the general public. Orlando, USA, brims with fake sightings during this time of year!
The celebration of the Coen Brothers' cult classic has even drawn out actors from the film, including the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, and the movement has apparently even inspired its own religion.
Springfield, USA, hosts over 4,000 devotees to the art of taxidermy, which, if you thought was a declining industry, you're sorely mistaken. Taxidermists and their apprentices can buy everything from fake eyes, fake fur, and the animal molds necessary to create their furry pieces.
It is the largest annual gathering of twins on the planet, drawing thousands of participants from all over the United States and many other countries.
People of all ages and their varied wooden buddies attend workshops, watch pros, and get some much needed practice for...whatever it is they plan to do.
Depending on your disposition, it could be loads of fun, or something out of your worst nightmare.
You may have thought barbershop quartets are a thing of the past, but middle-aged men continue to gather and sing old-timey tunes a cappella.
'Xena: Warrior Princess,' the syndicated fantasy adventure series starring Lucy Lawless as the titular, sword-wielding heroine, maintains a devoted cult following despite having gone off-air in 2001. The Xena Nation continues to celebrate the strong female lead, garnering a significant LGBTQ following for its fan theory that Xena and Gabrielle were lovers.
Called ICES for short, this convention is dedicated to preserving, advancing, and encouraging exploration of the sugar arts, gathering over 4,000 sugar artists from all over the world to their annual event. Festivities include a lot of drooling, and even resuscitating botched cakes at an on-site Cake Hospital!
The summit started in 2001 at a time when toilets and sanitation remained low on the global agenda and when they believed "May the flush be with you" was a good slogan.
The weird and wonderful flock to Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania, USA, to revive the absurdity of the carnival sideshow, risking "bodily harm for the sake of twisted entertainment," as their website says. You can expect sword swallowing, performers eating light bulbs, and all sorts of oddities.
Since 1975, Grand Rapids has been celebrating Judy Garland and the wonderful world of Oz with a festival full of authors and scholars discussing her life and career, screenings, costume contests, a look at the treasures of in the Judy Garland Museum, and a Dash for the Ruby Slippers.
If you haven't gotten enough spook from Halloween, you can enjoy three horror-filled days in the end of October or beginning of November, usually at the Lexington Center in Kentucky, USA.
The steampunk convention was held every year in New Jersey, USA. It mixes technology into a sci-fi re-imagination of the Victorian age. The last one was in 2018.
The Porcupine Freedom Festival is an annual week-long Libertarian camping event in New Hampshire, USA, where participants exercise their liberty in everything from selling their wares to exercising their right to free speech or openly toting their gun.
The convention's program includes presentations by scientists, academics, researchers, and those who have experienced paranormal phenomena from all over the world. Topics include UFO sightings and crashes, alien abduction, crop circles, governmental secrecy, and much, much more.
For three days at The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, USA, hundreds of fans unearth the B-movie classic by attending screenings, participating in a street fair, and re-enacting the iconic 'running out of the theater' scene.
Over 10,000 "Bronies" dress up as their favorite characters and embrace the 'My Little Pony' culture of extreme friendliness and acceptance.
This particular convention is a gathering of people who have an undying love for the children’s TV franchise 'My Little Pony,' which, despite targeting young girls, has attracted a huge number of male participants in the 18-35 age range.
All those little boys and girls who loved 'Little Mermaid' have grown up and taken charge of their own fairy tale. Hundreds of people have been known to gather in North Carolina, USA, to celebrate and embody the mythical water-dwelling creatures.
Similar to furries, the mer-people develop "mersonas." They also wear tails that have been known to cost as much US$4,000, take workshops on holding their breath, and even have beauty pageants.
MicroCon was created by the tiny self-declared nation of Molossia as a place for delegates of micronations around the world to gather and share their independently governed worlds, ideas, and dreams with one another.
Every year in Cincinnati, USA, a ridiculous number of ventriloquists gather to honor the age-old practice of speaking without moving your lips.
Redheads rejoice! Since 2005, people with vibrant red-toned locks gather for a two-day festival every year in the Netherlands to celebrate their redheadedness.
The two-day Weird Al Yankovic Fan Convention pays tribute to the Grammy-winning, accordion-playing parodist. Held in the ballroom of the Elk Grove Village Holiday Inn, USA, the activities include a "Look-Al-Like" contest, lip-sync competition, trivia contest, gong show, and has been known to feature an autograph signing session from the man himself.
TattooFest is held annually in Tampa Bay, USA, as well as in Krakow, Poland, and both conventions draw tattoo artists and ink enthusiasts from around the world for competitions, poking sessions, and more.
See also: The world's strangest museums
It’s either comforting or a little concerning that no matter what weird thing you happen to take interest in, there’s a large gathering of people around the world, that probably meet annually, ready to celebrate and indulge in the very niche-ness of your shared fascination.
From a love of grills to a passion in role-playing, check out some of the world's weirdest conventions.
Unusual fan conventions around the world
Have an odd hobby? There's a convention for that!
LIFESTYLE Curiosity
It’s either comforting or a little concerning that no matter what weird thing you happen to take interest in, there’s a large gathering of people around the world, that probably meet annually, ready to celebrate and indulge in the very niche-ness of your shared fascination.
From a love of grills to a passion in role-playing, check out some of the world's weirdest conventions.