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10 great places to go to an animal festival

The Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in Haines brings visitors to an Inside Passage community where thousands of eagles gather.
The Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in Haines brings visitors to an Inside Passage community where thousands of eagles gather.
William G. McRoberts
The queen kisses the king: Muireann Arthurs, Queen of Puck Fair coronates a wild mountain goat as King Puck at Puck Fair, Killorglin, County Kerry. During Ireland's Puck Fair, a wild goat is captured and made king of the town.
The queen kisses the king: Muireann Arthurs, Queen of Puck Fair coronates a wild mountain goat as King Puck at Puck Fair, Killorglin, County Kerry. During Ireland's Puck Fair, a wild goat is captured and made king of the town.
Puckfair.ie
Goatcatcher Frank Joy holds on tightly to His Majesty while he appears with Her Majesty at Puck Fair, Killorglin, County Kerry in Ireland.
Goatcatcher Frank Joy holds on tightly to His Majesty while he appears with Her Majesty at Puck Fair, Killorglin, County Kerry in Ireland.
Puckfair.ie
Toronto celebrates the canine in all its forms at its Woofstock festival, held in both summer and winter.
Toronto celebrates the canine in all its forms at its Woofstock festival, held in both summer and winter.
Tourism Toronto
Toronto's Woofstock Festival includes dress-up contests, but is more an excuse for a party rather than serious competition.
Toronto's Woofstock Festival includes dress-up contests, but is more an excuse for a party rather than serious competition.
Tourism Toronto
The Canadian canine festival is "fun and frivolous," says Steve Schmader, head of the International Festivals & Events Association. Americans can bring their dogs as long as they have vaccination records.
The Canadian canine festival is "fun and frivolous," says Steve Schmader, head of the International Festivals & Events Association. Americans can bring their dogs as long as they have vaccination records.
Tourism Toronto
Idaho's Trailing of the Sheep festival honors the annual tradition of moving livestock from summer fields to winter grazing lands. The sheep clog historic towns like Hailey and Ketchum on their journey.
Idaho's Trailing of the Sheep festival honors the annual tradition of moving livestock from summer fields to winter grazing lands. The sheep clog historic towns like Hailey and Ketchum on their journey.
Michael Edminster
Monkeys get to feast at the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand, in which villagers prepare an elaborate presentation of food for the primates.
Monkeys get to feast at the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand, in which villagers prepare an elaborate presentation of food for the primates.
Tourism Authority Of Thailand
The celebration, on the last Sunday of November, honors a legendary monkey king. Villagers create a huge buffet of stacked fruit that costs thousands of dollars, and then all is devoured by the area’s 2,000 wild monkeys.
The celebration, on the last Sunday of November, honors a legendary monkey king. Villagers create a huge buffet of stacked fruit that costs thousands of dollars, and then all is devoured by the area’s 2,000 wild monkeys.
Tourism Authority Of Thailand
"It's not just going out there and throwing bananas to them. This is how a community protects its history," Schmader says.
"It's not just going out there and throwing bananas to them. This is how a community protects its history," Schmader says.
Tourism Authority Of Thailand
A North Carolina caterpillar called the Woolly Worm is said to predict the severity of the coming winter. It's celebrated in an annual festival in Banner Elk, N.C., that includes worm races.
A North Carolina caterpillar called the Woolly Worm is said to predict the severity of the coming winter. It's celebrated in an annual festival in Banner Elk, N.C., that includes worm races.
VisitNC.com
If the worm has more black on its body than brown, expect chilly weather. The festival’s built around the races, where more than 1,000 caterpillars race up a string.
If the worm has more black on its body than brown, expect chilly weather. The festival’s built around the races, where more than 1,000 caterpillars race up a string.
VisitNC.com
"Anyone can find a worm and enter a contest and blow on it to get it to climb," Schmader says.
"Anyone can find a worm and enter a contest and blow on it to get it to climb," Schmader says.
VisitNC.com
The Dana Point Festival of Whales honors the annual gray-whale migration along the California coast.
The Dana Point Festival of Whales honors the annual gray-whale migration along the California coast.
Dana Wharf Whale Watching
The Dana Point Festival of Whales honors the annual gray-whale migration along the California coast.
The Dana Point Festival of Whales honors the annual gray-whale migration along the California coast.
Dana Point Festival Of Whales
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