One of the days that never fails to amuse, inspire and perplex me on the Weird Holidays & Observances page is Mike, The Headless Chicken Day, which is observed on May 31.
But not only does the “Miracle Chicken” have a day, there’s a festival for the freak-of-nature foul, called, yep, you guessed it: Mike the Headless Chicken Festival. (Which is listed, where else? On the Paracons & Horror Fests page. You can find it under its respective Month, State, and Category: May, Colorado, Wacky Fun.)
Mike’s Story
As any good festival does, Mike The Headless Chicken Festival has a website, which tells Mike’s history.
It was September 10, 1945. Clara Olsen was planning to fix chicken for dinner. She sent her husband, Lloyd, out in the yard to kill one for her to prepare.
What perhaps saved Mike’s life was Lloyd’s mother-in-law. She was coming to dinner and Lloyd knew she favored neckbones. So he prepared to take his swing to leave a generous one to offer to his MIL.
He swung his axe, Mike (who hadn’t yet acquired that name) did what a lot of chickens do when they’ve first had their heads chopped off: “staggered around” doing his Death Dance.
But he didn’t die. He went back to pecking for food and whatever else it is chickens do.
The next morning Lloyd found Mike “sleeping with his ‘head’ under his wing” and “he decided that if Mike had that much will to live, he would figure out a way to feed and water him.”
Which he did with an eye dropper.
He ended up taking Mike to scientists at the University of Utah to explain how Mike had survived. They determined the axe had missed the jugular and a blood clot was why he hadn’t bled to death.
Most of his head was in a jar, but his brain stem and an ear still remained on his body.
Mike went on to live for 18 more months, went on a national tour as the “Wonder Chicken,” and even set a Guinness World Record.
However, it was on his way home from a tour that he died. He started choking in the middle of the night and before Lloyd could find the eye dropper, he died.
Mike’s Festival
But the town of Fruita, Colorado, was proud of its Foul Phenom. This year marks the 21st annual festival in Mike’s honor to “celebrate his spirit.” It’s traditionally been held the first weekend in June. (And this year is no exception.)
Festivities include:
- A 5k run
- Disc golf tournament
- Wing and peep eating contests
- Live music
- Food
- Artisan booths
And what a perfect time for a poultry show, right? The High Desert Feather Fanciers hold theirs annual show in conjunction with the festival.
For More Info
Mike the Headless Chicken Festival takes place in Fruita, Colorado. Visit their website for more details: https://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/mike
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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