Audacious autumn: Check out odd fall events

Looking for something more exciting than pumpkin spice, Oktoberfests and leaf-peeping to shake up your plans this fall?

Consider adding one of these audacious autumnal experiences to your calendar: a squirrel cook-off in Arkansas, ukulele festival in Florida, caterpillar races in North Carolina or the annual wife-carrying contest in Maine. For the month of Elktober, you’ll find randy elks bugling their mating calls in Colorado. Or perhaps you’d like to turn your feet purple at a winery grape-stomping event.

Here’s a random sample of fall fun around the country from classics to events that are just a little bit wacky.

» Kentucky Bourbon Festival:

Kentucky, Sept. 11-17, www.kybourbonfestival.com. Bardstown, 8th Street Market, Bentonville, Arkansas, Sept. 16, www.squirrelcookoff.com.

London, Kentucky, Sept. 21-24, chickenfestival.com. Ccelebrates Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Sanders, featuring chicken fried in the world’s largest skillet. New Mexico, Sept. 27-Oct. 1, www.santafewineandchile.org. Street, Denver, Sept. 30, www.truckstoprally.com. Santa Fe, Welton

» Wild Mushroom Celebration:

Beach Peninsula, Washington, Oct. 1-Nov. 15, www.wildmushroomcelebration.com. Gulf Shores, Alabama, Oct. 12-15, www.myshrimpfest.com.

» National Shrimp Festival:

Easton, Pennsylvania, Nov. 4-5, pabaconfest.com.

JOHN KUCKO VIA AP A corn maze featuring an image of women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony is seen in July at Stokoe Farms in Scottsville, N.Y.