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-4 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 at noon. Admission is free.

The popularity of first festival overwhelmed the town last year, so the 2019 festival will be bigger and better equipped to handle the crowds! All 150 vendor spots were filled by February 2019. Special guests will include Cliff Barackman from the TV show Finding Bigfoot. Also new will be the Mountain Marquee theater to playing movies Paranormal Bigfoot and Big Fur. Educational presenters include Dr. Stamey, known for his work on the Lizardman, and Expedition Bigfoot Museum from Blue Ridge Georgia.

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. Dogs are allowed on a leash, but crowded festivals can be a bad experience for them.

Food vendors will include favorites like hot dogs and barbecue. Go squatchin at many downtown businesses that are getting into it. Go to Burrito Brothers (9 North Main Street) for a special Bigfoot Burrito!

Refinery 13 Taproom (13 North Main) will have souvenir pint glasses with Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale on tap, as well as several Boojum beers. Try the Blue Ridge Beast special craft beer at Mica Brewing (25 Brown Drive near Main).

Stop by Mr Bob’s Donuts (60 South Main) for fresh “Bigfoot Droppings” delights! It will pair nicely with Bigfoot Trax ice cream at Artesana Ice Cream (76 South Main). Get your Sasquatch key chain and other locally made items from Turtle Laboratories.

Find gifts for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family – like Bigfoot Soap! A DJ provides music, as well as strolling bluegrass ensembles.

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.

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.

New for 2019: Since downtown parking will be limited, shuttles will run until 4:30 PM to and from the following locations:
McDowell High School: 600 McDowell High Dr, Marion, NC 28752
West Middle School: 346 W McDowell Jr High Rd, Marion, NC 28752
McDowell Technicial Community College: 54 College Dr, Marion, NC 28752
Corpening Memorial YMCA: 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752.

Bigfoot Droppings
Refinery 13 Taproom’s souvenir pint glasses