Explore Your Silly Side This Spring

With spring in full bloom and the long winter finally a thing of the past, May is the perfect time to get the family out for some well-deserved fun. This month there are some awesomely weird ways to make the most of the season.

Toss a Bird

Head to Wisconsin May 26 for the 16^th annual Rubber Chicken Fling, one of the wackiest events around. Held every year in the town of Princeton, this event is exactly what it sounds like —  people of all ages gather to see who can fling a rubber chicken the farthest!

The event starts with a warm-up session at 10 a.m., and the contest gets officially underway at 11 a.m. Kids compete first, followed by a separate competition for adults and prizes are awarded in categories like accuracy and the furthest fling. This family-friendly event is free for the whole family and is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the fresh air so warm up your throwing arm and prepare yourself to let loose and have a silly time.

Go Bananas

Bombay Beach, CA: Sign of the International Banana Museum. Photo: Mkopka – Dreamstime.com

If you plan to be in Southern California this month you will have no shortage of ways to entertain the family, but if you’re looking for something truly unusual be sure to head into the desert of the Coachella Valley for a stop at the International Banana Museum. This single-room museum is packed from floor to ceiling with more than 20,000 banana-related items. Plush bananas, banana sculptures, banana toys, banana artwork, banana clothing, even giant bananas — if it resembles a banana, they’ve got it! They even offer a variety of banana snacks, like banana shakes, chocolate-covered bananas and banana-flavored soda pop to satisfy your taste buds. The museum is open Fridays through Mondays from 12:30–6 p.m., and costs $1 per person to enter.

Dress Like a Duck

Families with young children visiting the Boston area can have a ball on Mother’s Day by taking their little ones to participate in Duckling Day. For the past 30 years locals have celebrated this quirky tradition of honoring the legacy of Robert McCloskey’s timeless children’s book Make Way for Ducklings. On May 12, the Boston Public Garden will be flooded with flocks of children dressed like ducklings and participating in fun games and activities. There is also scheduled to be a juggler, a magician and a giant duck for photo opportunities.

The festivities are all included in a $35 admission fee per family ($40 if you wait until the day of the event) and include the famous Duckling Day Parade. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. and the parade starts promptly at noon. If you don’t have a duck costume in your suitcase, don’t worry — the event’s organizers want to make sure no one feels left out so there will duckling-themed hats and t-shirts on hand for purchase at the event. Families are encouraged to bring picnic lunches to make the most of this beautiful day in the park.