With over 40 species of blackflies existing in Vermont, one would guess that Adamant has every reason to celebrate their pesky neighbours.
A fashion show, blackfly poetry slam and a blackfly pie contest (though blackflies are not part of the ingredients), all form part of the activities of the 13th annual Adamant Blackfly Festival.
Adamant, a village in the 1,600-resident town of Calais in central Vermont, has conditions that blackflies like: clean moving water in the form of streams. In late April or May, the flies emerge from streams in droves in search of blood.
In other parts of the world, they spread diseases like river blindness but not in New England, said a villager.
"Up here they are just basically protectors of our wild areas," said Alan Graham, Vermont state entomologist.
The festival schedule also includes live music, an auction and the annual Blackfly Parade, with a marching band, tractors and floats. Somebody might even bring their goats this year, MacLeod said.
"We never kind of know what's going to be there until 2:00 when people start lining up," MacLeod said.
The event, which is expected to draw 100 to 200 people, raises money for the Adamant Co-op, a community-run general store and post office.
The festival ends between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at which time the schedule notes: "Blackflies all die."
Hopefully.