If you’re a fan of cryptids but have been unlucky in actually having your own documented sighting, you’re in luck. Every September, I attend the Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The town itself had experienced a horrific tragedy in the late 60’s when the Silver Bridge collapsed right before Christmas, killing almost everyone who had been busy buying Christmas presents and driving to and from town across the bridge. John Keel, author, lived in the town for a short time and wrote his controversial book, Mothman Prophesies. You might be familiar with the movie of the same title, although it does differ greatly from the book. In the book, Keel documents the events prior to and following the collapse of the bridge and it is a tell-all account of Mothman sightings, UFOs, Men in Black and other strange occurrences. Every year, the small town puts on a festival which includes Mothman pancakes, shows off the solid steel Mothman sculpture in town’s square, sells tickets to the Mothman Museum, has a hayride in the area in which the Mothman was first sighted where you can also camp out for the night. Along with all of those activities, they also have speakers on varying subjects but all relating to the paranormal. You can also meet some townspeople who claim to have had a sighting of the Mothman at that time.

It is very fun, interesting and free to get in. Everyone is so friendly there and you can even eat at Harris’ Steakhouse (just like the one in the movie). Mothman legend is that he is a harbinger of doom or death, loosely related to the Thunderbirds of Native American lore. If you have a sighting of the Mothman a tragedy will soon occur. There have been supposed sightings all over the world and much discussion on what the Mothman is exactly. Point Pleasant was a warhead producer and it still contains the shelters in which they were kept. Some believe the Mothman is a result of radioactivity melding with the wildlife. Others think the Mothman is from another dimension and even some believe him to be an angel of sorts (a former preacher gives a lecture on this idea).

The townspeople have definitely found their niche in tourism with this event but remain respectful towards those who lost their lives on the bridge and if you talk to the tour guides and townspeople out of context they may even tell you their own Mothman story.  Go to www.mothmanlives.com for more information.

Another cryptid festival is the Annual Bigfoot Festival in Smithville, Oklahoma. I have not attended this festival myself but I hope to if I am ever in the area. It takes place in October and seems to be very family-friendly and a lot of fun!

Another festival you don’t want to miss is the Paul Bunyan Festival in Athens, Ohio. Ok, so he isn’t a cryptid per say, but a mythology nonetheless. This festival shows off the local talent with ax-throwing contests and log-rolling. They have a craft fair there and train rides as well. If you choose, and get bored, they also host a beer tent and karaoke.

Well, you may never see an actual cryptid but don’t scoff at the thought…Some of the animals we now know and love were unknown and therefore, cryptids themselves. Pandas, the Giant Squid and Okapis, just to name a few.