A half a century ago, a man named Charlie got the odd idea to hold a worm race in Clearlake. Surprisingly, the event took off and is still going strong. Spectators love to watch wiggly worms lurch their way from the center to the outside of a circle. (Apparently, the little buggers respond to cheering and clapping, the louder the better.) This year’s International Worm Races and Festival will happen on July 2 in Clearlake. It’ll kick off at 11 a.m. with the Redbud Parade, which will travel from Redbud Park to Austin Park, where the festival and races will be held. Besides the worm races, there’ll be live country music, a carnival, and, at dusk, fireworks. The festival will run 11 a.m.–9 p.m., with music beginning at 7 p.m.; the carnival will run until midnight. Find out more at tinyurl.com/5a9748a5.