May 13-14, 2022
Don't miss the third annual WNC Bigfoot Festival that celebrates the legendary creature. It covers several 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. This year, they are adding an indoor expo on Friday. The big street festival is Saturday.
Friday: Bigfoot Expo inside the MarionCommunity Building with Bigfoot Researchers presenting and displaying their evidence from 3-8 PM. The cost for the expo is $5/person.
Saturday: The 5-block long street festival runs 10 AM-6 PM with plenty of vendors, Sasquatch souvenirs, speakers, food, and a kids zone. Talk with hunters and enthusiasts from across the country with photographs and even plaster casts from expeditions into the woods. Stop at Courthouse Square to listen to stories about encounters. Sasquatch the Legend Bigfoot Costume Contest happens at 1 PM. 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. Also try the special craft beer at Mica Brewing (25 Brown Drive near 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 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.
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.
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
- McDowell Technical Community College: 54 College Dr, Marion, NC 28752
- Corpening Memorial YMCA: 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
Marion is a great small town that hosts several fun festivals, including the Livermush Festival in June. See more things to do in the Marion area.
