The Mike the Headless Chicken Festival Honors a Death-Defying Rooster
By: Marissa Brassfield
Published: May 18, 2011

The Mike the Headless Chicken Festival takes place on May 20 and 21 in Fruita, Colorado. The offbeat summer fete honors Mike, a Wyandotte rooster that was destined for Lloyd and Clara Olsen's dinner table in September 1945. After being beheaded, however, the rooster went on to live for another 18 months, growing from 2.5 pounds to almost 8 pounds. For more on Mike's story, see the official Mike the Headless Chicken biography.
The Mike the Headless Chicken Festival features a 5K run, live music, a car show, a chicken-dancing contest, eating contests and other chicken-themed games. Colorado readers, is this a festival you plan on attending?

Comments:
Barnaby
May 18, 2011

I wonder if they ate him after he finally succumbed? The bio doesn't say. :-)