Photo by flickr user: slight

“Sometimes there’s a man who, wal, he’s the man for his time’n place.  He fits right in there–and that’s the Dude, in Los Angeles.”

–The Stranger (From The Big Lebowski)

A place for those who are of their time and place

Do you love to go bowling?
Do you have an affinity for White Russians?
Do people often say that you’re a good-for-nothing-slacker?

Well bowling is a great pasttime.  White Russians do have an appeal to them.  And as for those jerks who like to put you down, you’d probably like to punch them in the nose if it weren’t for the fact that you’re, like, a pacifist man.

For two days, there are a few cities (and growing) across the nation that will bustle a little extra in the middle of the hot summer with live music, all-night bowling, trivia, costume contests, white Russians, and obscure dialogue quotations from the Coen brother’s 1998 film, The Big Lebowski. That congregation of misfits, slackers, stoners, deadbeats, and all-around fanatics is called Lebowski Fest.

The first Lebowski Fest was held in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2002, when two guys planned on a night of bowling, buddies, and booze, namely White Russians.  Maybe something with sasparilla.  The event took off, and as the numbers grew and looked promising, Lebowski Fest was born.

Lebowski Fest 2009 will be held in it’s birthplace, Louisville, KY July 10th – 11th.  It will be held in Los Angeles May 7th and 8th.  The fest’s official website, lebowskifest.com, states that more cities are to be included for a North American tour.  So far, they mention: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Austin, Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New York.  For info on dates and cities added to the tour, visit the site.

Lebowski Fest features

• Special guests and performers
• Movie Screenings
• Costume and trivia contests
• White Russians & Oat sodas
• Vendor booths
• Crazy bowling party
• A place where aggression will not stand

Lebowski Fest is no small wonder.  It’s received various accolades and mentions from the LA Times, Spin, Maxim, Rolling Stone, FHM, the New York Times, film.com, the Wall Street Journal, and has been covered in various events sections of local papers and travel guides.  In his book, Bowling Across America, author Mike Walsh gives his account experiencing the first Lebowski Fest in 2002.

As a companion to the film, the organizers of Lebowski Fest have published a book, I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You.  The book chronicles some of the happenings at Lebowski Fest.  It includes interviews with hard-core fans, as well as, some of the actors from the movie.  There’s even some instruction on How to Dude-ify your Car.

What about our neighbors across the pond?  The Dude Abides, is a Big Lebowski-themed festival held in London.  Unfortunately, their site doesn’t seem to have been updated since their 2007 festival.

This isn’t a Star Trek convention or a Grateful Dead concert, but the festival has been likened to being a combination of both.  I’m sure that even people who have never seen the movie–although at a loss–would still be able to enjoy themselves at Lebowski Fest.  However, I would suggest that these poor folks go accompanied.  If not, then they may be entering a world of pain.

Have you been to Lebowski Fest?

We’d love to hear your stories or see your pictures.  Let us know by commenting below.