Image by Flickr user greenkayak73 Image by 20091125-pig.jpg

While there's no shortage of fun to be had this Thanksgiving weekend, if you want a real cultural experience you could consider heading up to Salley, South Carolina, (near Columbia) for the Chitlin' Strut 2009 on Saturday, November 28.

Yes, the festival that celebrates the delicacy that is fried pig intestine with an eating contest is an oddity for sure, but it's also a reminder of how important the pig has been to Southern culture.

But it's not just about chitlins: there's other food, music, a parade and a beauty queen contest.

Lear oodles more on the event's Web site.