Woolly Worm Festival
woolly worm festival event held october since banner elk avery county north carolina festival celebrates supposed weatherpredicting ability woolly worm also called woolly bear caterpillar larva isabella tiger moth event include caterpillar race isabella tiger moth belongs subfamily arctiinae specie around world prior settling winter woolly worm eats variety plant produce kind antifreeze protects creature temperature low degree fahrenheit caterpillar seek safety bitter winter weather sheltering log boulder board rock dark place emerging frozen state may accepted organizer north carolina woolly worm festival color worm thirteen body segment stripe read interpreted forecaster severity coming winter although everyone recognizes woolly worm accredited weather forecaster worm held esteem festival celebrant proclaimed percent accuracy rate prediction year attendance mountain celebration average people featured worldfamous farmer almanac kiwanis international magazine presiding yearly festival master ceremony help festival mascot merriweather mc responsible ensuring festival rule rigorously kept particular regard caterpillar race worm entered compete least heat heat worm must race inch vertical string attached cardboard backboard flatbed trailer people allowed holler whistle encourage worm race heat consists worm race continue day grand final pm winning worm announced official forecaster owner win monetary prize festival proceeds expense distributed support community effort charity woollybear festival similar festival held annually vermilion ohio official website woolly worm festival banner elk nc youtube