Bat Fest in top 10 of summer festivals

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin is known for many things and hosts an event that has now been dubbed as on of the 10 most wacky summer events in the U.S.

Austin Bat Fest , now in its eight year, ranked sixth in the nation, according to the TripAdvisor® editors choice released Thursday.

Bat Fest celebrates the two million Mexican Free Tail Bats which take up seasonal residence beneath Austin’s Congress Street Bridge, forming the world’s largest urban bat colony. The festival welcomes 40,000 attendees each year – and while the stars of the show are undoubtedly the winged wonders, which appear at dusk and take to the skies for their nightly flight, lower-altitude activities include a bat costume contest, bat education sessions and live music.

Another Texas festival, the “Great Texas Mosquito Festival” in Clute, took the top-spot.

Among the list, the “Slug Burger Festival” in Corinth, Miss., the “Humongous Fungus Festival” in Crystal Falls, Mich., and the “Wausau Possum Festival” in Wausau, Fla.

Complete list of top ten TripAdvisor® editors choice summer events:

1. The Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Clute, Texas
2. Slugburger Festival in Corinth, Miss.
3. World Chicken Festival in London, Ky.
4. Humungus Fungus Festival in Crystal Falls, Mich.
5. Wausau Possum Festival in Wausau, Fla.
6. Bat Fest in Austin, Texas
7. Hollerin’ Contest in Spivey’s Corner, N.C.
8. Cream Cheese Festival in Lowville, N.Y.
9. Hope Watermelon Festival in Hope, Ariz.
10. Mattoon Bagelfest in Mattoon, Ill.