Woolly Worm Festival facts for kids
The Woolly Worm Festival is a super fun event held every October in Banner Elk and Avery County, North Carolina. It's a special celebration that started in 1978. People gather to see if woolly worms, also called "woolly bears," can really predict the winter weather! These fuzzy creatures are actually caterpillars, which are the young form of the isabella tiger moth. The most exciting part of the festival is a big race where these caterpillars compete!
Meet the Woolly Worm
The woolly worm is the caterpillar stage of the isabella tiger moth. This moth belongs to a large group called Arctiinae, which has about 11,000 different kinds of species all over the world.
Before winter arrives, the woolly worm eats lots of different plants. Then, it makes a special kind of "antifreeze" inside its body. This amazing natural antifreeze helps protect the worm from super cold temperatures, even as low as -90 degrees Fahrenheit! To stay safe during the cold winter, these caterpillars find cozy spots. They hide under logs, big rocks, boards, or other dark places. They stay "frozen" until May, when they wake up and come out again.
How Worms Predict Weather
At the North Carolina Woolly Worm Festival, people believe that the colors on a woolly worm's body can tell us about the coming winter. A woolly worm has thirteen body sections, and each section can be a different color. People think these colors can predict how harsh or mild the winter will be.
Even though not everyone agrees that woolly worms are official weather forecasters, people at the festival really trust them! They say the worms are right about 80 to 85 percent of the time with their predictions.
The Big Race!
Every year, thousands of people come to this mountain festival. About 15,000 to 20,000 people attend each time! The festival has even been featured in famous publications like the Farmers' Almanac and the Kiwanis International Magazine.
A special host, called the master of ceremonies, leads the festival each year. With help from the festival's mascot, Merriweather, they make sure everyone follows the rules, especially for the caterpillar race! About 1200 worms enter the competition, racing in at least 50 different heats.
In each race, 20 worms compete. They have to race 42 inches straight up a string that's attached to a cardboard board. People are allowed to cheer loudly and whistle to encourage their worms to race faster! The races happen all day long, leading up to the big final race around 4:00 p.m. The worm that wins the final race is announced as the official winter forecaster! Its owner also wins a money prize. After paying for the festival, the money raised helps support local community projects and charities.
See also
- Woollybear Festival, a similar festival held every year in Vermilion, Ohio
