21 South Main Street
Marion
NC
Don’t miss the second annual Bigfoot Festival in western North Carolina that celebrates the legendary creature. It will be held 10 AM-3 PM on three blocks of Main Street in downtown Marion, located about 36 miles east of Asheville. In addition to Sasquatch-themed items, find a variety of local craft and food vendors. Join the fun and sign up for the Bigfoot Calling Contest and Bigfoot Knocking Competition. Admission is free.
Since this is the biggest Bigfoot Festival in eastern USA, hunters and enthusiasts from across the country will be there with photographs and even plaster casts from expeditions into the woods. At a Town Hall Meeting will allow sharing of encounters. See a Bigfoot art show at the MACA (McDowell Arts Council Association) at 50 South Main. Kids will enjoy a free bouncy house, scavenger hunt and other activities. A 5K starts the day.
Special guests for 2019 will include Cliff Barackman from the TV show Finding Bigfoot. Dogs are allowed on a leash, but crowded festivals can be a bad experience for them.
Why in Marion?
Sightings of Bigfoot have been reported in the Northwest US dating back to the mid 1800s. The hairy ape-like creature has been described as being 6-9 feet tall with a strong unpleasant smell. Its enormous footprints are claimed to be as large as 24 inches long. The organizer, John Bruner, is a local expert on Bigfoot and chronicles sightings from across the country. In fact, there was a sighting by nearby Lake James in 2017. He operates the North Carolina Bigfoot 911 Facebook group. John appreciates his first year sponsors: Spencer’s Ace Hardware, Tate’s Insurance and McDowell Chamber of Commerce.
Location
For GPS Address, use 21 South Main Street, Marion. From Asheville, go east on I-40 to Exit 81. Turn right onto Sugar Hill Road for about 3.5 miles to downtown. Find plenty of parking along other downtown streets.