Milwaukee has been called the City of Festivals, for its packed schedule of fêtes along Lake Michigan in the summer.

But the rest of Wisconsin knows how to throw a good party, too.

There are your traditional small-town parades and fireworks celebrations around holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, but some towns get creative with their festivals, celebrating local delicacies and claims to fame.

Here’s a look at some of the wackiest festivals in Wisconsin over the summer.

May 18-19, Muscoda

Morels are so rare, and rarefied, that they get their own festival in Muscoda every May. Thousands head to the village along the Lower Wisconsin River, dubbed Wisconsin’s Morel Mushroom Capital, to search for and savor the elusive mushroom that pops up in woods in spring. The festival includes morels for sale (they can cost upwards of $20/pound) and prepared morel foods (including the classic favorite, fried), plus an arts and crafts fair, flea market, fireworks and a parade.

June 6-9, Sparta

June is Dairy Month in Wisconsin, and you butter believe Sparta is going to celebrate. The city’s first celebration in 1984 was simply Sparta Fest Days. The following year it was changed to Sparta Butter Festival for the “state award winning butter makers who worked at the local milk plant,” the festival’s website notes. The name was changed again in 1992 to Butterfest, and it’s been that ever since. The festival has the usual arts and crafts for sale, a car show and food, plus a dairy special cow-milking contest. Teams compete to see who can get the most milk in four, one-minute rounds.

June 21-22, Ellsworth

The state's finest delicacy has its own festival in the official Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin, so proclaimed by Governor Anthony S. Earl in 1984. At the time, the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery was producing more than 19 million pounds of cheese curds; today they make more than 180,000 pounds daily. The weekend festival features more than 5,000 pounds of cheese curds and 20-plus dishes made with curds, plus a cheese-curd eating contest, live music, a classic car show and a vendor market.

Ducktona 500

July 7, Sheboygan Falls

Secure a rubber duck for a race down the Sheboygan River that features thousands of the plastic toys; winners take home big cash prizes. The festival also includes a classic car show, live music, carnival rides and a Kid Zone with bounce houses.

Sovereign State Days

July 18-21, Winneconne

In 1967, the village of Winneconne (pop. 1,273 at the time) was left off the official Wisconsin highway map. To put itself back on the map, so to speak, Winneconne seceded from the state on July 21, 1967. Within the day, the governor responded and promised to place signs on Highways 41 and 110 and allow the village to review the 1968 map before it printed. That was enough for Winneconne, which rejoined the state that day and celebrates its day of rebellion with an annual festival that includes fireworks, a parade, games, contests and food.

July 26-28, Green Bay

This festival featuring historical ships isn’t super wacky, but the World's Largest Rubber Duck that’s scheduled to make an appearance is. The 11-ton bird, known as Mama Duck, is 61 feet tall and will be at the festival all weekend, ready for selfies but not for boarding. Visitors can board and even sail on some of the nine ships that will dock in Leicht Memorial Park, where there will also be food and beverages for sale, a children’s area, live music, and fireworks on Friday night. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (62+) and $10 for kids ages 5-12 (ages 4 and under are free). Kids are only $5 on Sunday, Family Day. The 90-minute sailing excursions are sold out; tickets for three-hour sails are still available and start at $110.

UFO Days

July 27-28, Elmwood

In the 1970s, multiple residents of this small village in western Wisconsin reported seeing mysterious lights and flying objects. That was enough for the town to dub itself the UFO Capital of Wisconsin and begin hosting a festival in 1978. The festival includes a parade with alien-themed floats and a plane that drops paper plates with coupons for local businesses.

Belleville also hosts a UFO Day in October to commemorate sightings there.

Burger Fest

Aug. 10, Seymour

Almost every festival has hamburgers, but how many have a 200-pound burger and a Giant Ketchup Slide? Find it in Seymour, the birthplace of the burger. The city’s annual celebration also includes a Bun Run, a car show, the World’s Largest Hamburger Parade and a burger-eating contest. Admission is $3 in advance and $5 at the gate; children 12 and under are free.

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw

Aug. 30-31, Prairie du Sac

"To get a better hold on your chip, you may lick your fingers before you throw,” the chip chuckin’ rules for this festival state. “(This is optional),” they go on to clarify. What’s not optional: bare hands. No gloves allowed. The state record for the longest throw is 248 feet, chucked by Greg Neumaier of Sauk Prairie in 1991. The women’s record is 157 feet, 5 inches, tossed by Oak Creek’s Terry Wallschleger in 2005. Other activities throughout the day include a 5K/10K, an arts and crafts fair, children’s games and a parade.

Sputnikfest

Sept. 7, Manitowoc

In 1962, a 20-pound hunk of the Russian satellite Sputnik IV crash-landed in Manitowoc. A metal ring near the corner of North Eighth and Park streets marks the spot, and a replica of the chunk is on display in the nearby Rahr-West Art Museum (the real thing was sent back to Russia). The town commemorates the historic event with this spacey festival, featuring alien costumes, the Ms. Space Debris Pageant, a Cosmic Cake competition and live entertainment.

Watermelon Festival

Sept. 7, Pardeeville

In 1968 this small town near Portage was looking for something to put it on the map, and the U.S. Watermelon Speed-Eating & Seed-Spitting Championships were born. From there the festival has expanded to include a largest watermelon competition, watermelon carving and other typical festival fare.

Beef-a-rama

Sept. 28, Minocqua

This Northwoods tourist town is more woods than cow pasture, but beef is celebrated here every September. The festival includes a Roast Parade, where meat is literally paraded down Main St.; beef sandwiches for sale; a roasting competition; a beef-eating contest; a 5K/10K Rump Roast Run and Walk; and lots of cow costumes.

Cabbage Chuck World Championships

September, Shiocton

Welcome to Wisconsin, where we chuck anything that can be chucked, including cabbage at this festival. Chuckers can compete using their own brute strength or a catapult they have constructed. Other activities at Shiocton Lake Park include a largest cabbage contest, a silent auction and kids’ games. Admission is $3 per person; kids under 16 are admitted free.

Bonus: Snowshoe Baseball

Mondays, June-August, Lake Tomahawk

This isn’t a festival but a wacky weekly event in Lake Tomahawk. Every summer the town covers its baseball diamond with saw chips and players strap on snowshoes and compete in a softball game while wearing the clunky shoes. Usual baseball concessions are sold alongside pies made by community members. Proceeds go to local organizations. Games are held at Snowshoe Park at 7:30 p.m. every Monday, mid-June through the end of August.

Contact Chelsey Lewis at (414) 224-2144 or clewis@journalsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew and @TravelMJS and Facebook at Journal Sentinel Travel.