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Kwazimodo, Speedster at 37th Annual Woolly Worm Festival Forecasts Below Normal Temps, Mixed Snow

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By Jesse Wood

Oct. 18, 2014. After the reported woolly worm shortage, there were enough competitors after all.

Vince Weyman, a ninth grader from Graham, raced the winning woolly worm on Saturday at the 37th annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk.

Festival experts examined the black and brown bands, which in Appalachian folklore can predict the upcoming winter, on the winning worm, Kwazimodo. The following 2014-15 winter forecast was released by organizers:

  • Weeks 1-4 (December 21-January 17) – Snowy with below normal temperatures
  • Week 5  (January 18-24) – Light snow with below normal temperatures
  • Weeks 6-10 (January 25-February 28) – Below average temperatures with little or no snow
  • Week 11  (March 1-7) – Moderate snow and below normal temperatures
  • Weeks 12-13 (March 8-21) – Snowy with below normal temperatures
Bailey Bartlett of Linville was optimistic that her woolly worm Fury would win Heat 49 at Saturday's Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, but it was not to be. Fury was a classic loser who preferred to climb down rather than up his lane of string, so he never even crossed the starting line. Photo by Jim Morton
Bailey Bartlett of Linville was optimistic that her woolly worm Fury would win Heat 49 at Saturday’s Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, but it was not to be. Fury was a classic loser who preferred to climb down rather than up his lane of string, so he never even crossed the starting line. Photo by Jim Morton