Deerfield in Michigan has been forced to cancel its annual testicle-eating festival to try and stop the spread of coronavirus (Pictures: Deerfield American Legion)

An annual testicle-eating festival has become the latest event to fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival was due to welcome 2,000 locals and visitors to Deerfield, Michigan, on Saturday. Attendees would then have spent 12 hours eating plate after plate of steaming, deep-fried cattle genitals, but organizers have now pulled the plug amid fears such a large gathering could help spread the killer virus.

Organizer Nick Pulver, from the Deerfield American Legion, said: ‘This festival alone operates the American Legion for the year.

‘It is sad to see it pushed back.


‘So many people look forward to coming to Deerfield during this time of year, but this decision was made with the best intentions. I think we made the best choice to delay it.’



Pulver said that some fans of the festival traveled 400 miles to attend – but added that organizers hope to hold it on May 9 instead.

All 300 pounds of testicles that were due to be eaten have been frozen until then, to ensure no food is wasted, LenConnect reported.

The festival, which heralds the start of spring, also serves up chicken gizzards and helps fund the local legion, which acts as a community center for locals in Deerfield.

It was started during the 1960s by local slaughterhouse workers, and was formally turned into a festival in 2001.

So far, over 9,400 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the US, with 155 killed by Covid-19 – the disease caused by coronavirus – by Thursday morning.

Michigan has so far seen 119 diagnoses and one death, with politicians banning large gatherings in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading.

Other events that have been canceled include the Eurovision Song Contest, and the Met Gala in New York.