River Walk Mud Festival San Antonio, TX

This city never lacks a reason to have a party, and this event proves it. Each year in January, the city's parks department drains the River Walk portion of the San Antonio River to do routine maintenance and cleaning. Rather than grumbling over the two-week loss of the city's main attraction, the philanthropic and activist group called the Paseo del Rio Association created a reason to attract people downtown during that time- a wildly irreverent party called the Mud Festival. A Mud King and Queen are elected from the nominees who raise the most money for the organization. They then reign over the Mud Pie Ball and the Mud Parade. Most often, the royalty are local celebrities, politicians or business leaders. Admission varies by event.