Mike the Headless Chicken (April 20, 1945 – March 17, 1947), also known as Miracle Mike, was a Wyandotte chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off. Fruita, Colorado celebrates its famous fowl resident with an annual Mike the Headless Chicken Day. This year's festival occurs May 18-19 and features a 5K "run like a headless chicken" race, chicken dance contest, eating contests and much more. Mike’s owner, a Colorado farmer, cut his head off in September 1945. Mike became “the Headless Chicken” on September 10 th, 1945 after being decapitated by his owner, Lloyd Olsen from Fruita, Colorado, who wanted to cook him for dinner. Mike's fame faded out after he finally died from choking on a corn kernel, but now headless Mike is in for a revival of sorts. Mike the Headless Chicken more popular than Clinton ... Colo., will jog in a 5K Run Like a Headless Chicken race (in circles, do you suppose?) Mike's presidential announcement should come as no surprise, he often makes these kinds of bold announcements to promote the Mike The Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita, Colorado. For travel information, visit the Fruita Web site. He lived another 18 months, earning the nickname Miracle Mike, before toppling over in 1947. Headless Chicken race, a Find Mike's Head Treasure Hunt -- and, of course, plenty of chicken dishes. Mike became “the Headless Chicken” on September 10 th, 1945 after being decapitated by his owner, Lloyd Olsen from Fruita, Colorado, who wanted to cook him for dinner. After the initial tour, the Olsens took Mike the Headless Chicken to Phoenix, Arizona, where disaster struck in the spring of 1947.

He lived this way for 18 months, until he reportedly choked to death. Have you heard about Mike the Headless Chicken?

The event includes egg tossing, a chicken cluck off, chicken bingo, and a 5K race run ‘headless chicken style’. Mike actually has his own holiday! "That's where it died - in Phoenix," Waters says.

In addition to these events, there is also live music and vendors. Some of the events included the 5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race, egg tosses, Pin the Head on the Chicken, the Chicken Cluck-Off, and the classic Chicken Dance. Mike's presidential announcement should come as no surprise, he often makes these kinds of bold announcements to promote the Mike The Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita, Colorado.

People gather for festive events held such as the “5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race”, egg toss, “Pin the Head on the Chicken”, the “Chicken Cluck-Off”, and “Chicken Bingo”, in which chicken droppings on … Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, CO. Photo: Skelekitty (Krissi Sandvik) The two most prominent events of the festival include the 5K Race and the Disc Golf Tourney. “Miracle Mike” was eye-droppered a milk and water mixture until he met his unexpected death over a year later when he choked on a kernel of corn. Mike the Headless Chicken, also known as Miracle Mike, was a five-month-old male who lived a happy life on a farm in Fruita, Colorado. On May 17, 1999, Mike’s hometown of Fruita held the first "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" in honor of one of its most famous citizens. Mike soon became a national phenomenon, touring the country in sideshows and being featured in Time and Life. Source: Mike the Headless Chicken Facebook page. June 2 @ 9 am at the Fruita Civic Center. People gather for festive events held such as the “5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race”, egg toss, “Pin the Head on the Chicken”, the “Chicken Cluck-Off”, and “Chicken Bingo”, in which chicken droppings on a numbered grid choose the numbers. Mike The Headless Chicken lived for 18 months without a noggin after a farmer, in a failed attempt at slaughter, axed off his head and missed the jugular vein. The most complete reference on Mike can be found in the book The Official Mike the Headless Chicken Book by Teri Thomas (2000, Fruita Times). Source: Mike the Headless Chicken Facebook page. The event includes egg tossing, a chicken cluck off, chicken bingo, and a 5K race run ‘headless chicken … Advertisement: Interested? Unfortunately, Mike choked on a kennel of corn at a motel in Phoenix March 1947. On September 10, 1945, Lloyd Olsen—the owner of the farm—and his wife, Clara, decided it was time for Mike to become a part of someone’s dinner, so he beheaded the animal. Mike the Headless Chicken 5k Run/Walk. Mike the Headless Chicken is now an institution in Fruita, Colorado, with an annual “Mike the Headless Chicken Day”, the third weekend of May, starting in 1999. This year's festival occurs May 18-19 and features a 5K "run like a headless chicken" race, chicken dance contest, eating contests and much more.