Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend 2026

March 7–8, 2026 | Downtown Fayetteville & Trails

Fayetteville is going full folklore for Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend, March 7–8, 2026! Venture into town and the surrounding trails as some of West Virginia’s most legendary cryptids emerge from the shadows.

Spot familiar Appalachian legends like Bigfoot and Mothman roaming downtown, popping up along trails, and making surprise appearances throughout the weekend. Bring your camera and see if you can capture cryptids “in the wild” — wandering through town, lurking near trailheads, or blending into everyday Fayetteville life.

The weekend kicks off on Saturday, March 7, with the opening of a Cryptid Art Exhibition at the Love Hope Center for the Arts, featuring regional artists inspired by folklore, myth, and Appalachian legends.

Throughout the weekend, enjoy a Cryptid-themed Art Walk through your favorite Fayetteville businesses, with special stops, themed displays, and surprises along the way. Shops, galleries, and community spaces will embrace the strange and unusual as downtown transforms into a playful celebration of West Virginia’s most mysterious creatures. There will also be a cryptid scavenger hunt through town.

Whether you’re a folklore fan, an art lover, a photographer, or just curious about what goes bump in the woods — Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend is your chance to explore Fayetteville from a whole new perspective.

Pro tip: Keep your camera ready… you never know when a cryptid might appear.

 

Thank you to our generous sponsor!

APPALACHIAN ESCAPES

Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend Schedule

Saturday, March 7th

11:00am-4:00pm Cryptid Scavenger Hunt – Start by picking up your scavenger hunt list at the Fayetteville Visitor Center

11:00am-4:00pm Junior Cryptozoologist Program – Start by picking up your field guide at the Fayetteville Visitor Center

11:00am-5:00pm Cryptid Crawl Art Walk Trail

11:00am-4:00pm Cryptid Crawl Art Walk Vendors

11:00am-6:00pm Cryptid Art Show at Love Hope Center for the Arts

11:15am-12:00pm Meet & Greet/Q & A with Les O’Dell Big Foot Hunter at Appalachian Ghost Tours Table at Water Stone Outdoors

12:00pm-1:00pm Appalachian Ghost Tours Paranormal Investigation Location TBA

12:15pm- 12:45pm Meet & Greet/Q & A with 304Urbexxx at Appalachian Ghost Tours Table at Water Stone Outdoors

12:30pm- 1:30pm Bigfoot Hunt Led by Les O’ Dell at the Gaines Estate – $5.00

1:00pm-1:45pm Meet & Greet/Q & A with Morgan Lambert, Haunted Content Creator at Appalachian Ghost Tours Table at Water Stone Outdoors

1:00pm-2:00pm Appalachian Ghost Tours Paranormal Investigation Location TBA

2:00pm-2:45pm Meet & Greet/Q & A with Theresa Racer, Theresa’s Haunted History at Appalachian Ghost Tours Table at Water Stone Outdoors

2:00pm-3:00pm Appalachian Ghost Tours Paranormal Investigation Location TBA

3:00pm-4:00pm Appalachian Ghost Tours Paranormal Investigation Location TBA

3:00pm-4:00pm Mothman Felting Workshop at Mountain Magnolia (Ages 10+ due to sharp felting needles) – $25.00

2:30pm-3:30pm Bigfoot Hunt Led by Les O’ Dell at the Gaines Estate – $5.00

3:00pm-3:30pm Cryptid Costume Contest in front of the Fayette County Courthouse

4:00pm-6:00pm Ghost Hunt with Appalachian Ghost Tours at the Gaines Estate grounds –  $10.00

5:00pm-6:00pm West Virginia Cryptid Talk – Learn about every beast, monster, ghoul, and unidentified critter in the state at Mountain Magnolia (appropriate for all ages)

6:00pm-7:00pm Bigfoot Hunts Led by Les O’ Dell at the Gaines Estate – $5.00

6:00pm-7:00pm WV Cryptids: A Mythic Movement & Mediation Journey at New River Yoga $20.00

7:00pm- 8:30pm Fayetteville Ghost Walk Learn about the haunts and legends of Fayetteville. Meet at Mountain Magnolia – special discount for Cryptid Weekend, all ages welcome $15.00

7:00pm-11:00pm Paranormal Investigation at the Gaines Estate with Appalachian Ghost Tours $20.00

7:30pm-11:00pm John Inghram Band with Ryan Brandenburg and Carlise Trash Pile LIVE at The Outpost – New River Gorge Campground – $15.00

Sunday, March 8th

9:00am-10:00am Wings in the Dark at New River Yoga Studios – a vibrational energy workshop – $15.00

11:00am-2:00pm Cryptid Scavenger Hunt – Start by picking up your scavenger hunt list at the Fayetteville Visitor Center

11:00am-4:00pm Cryptid Art Show at Love Hope Center for the Arts

12:00pm-12:30pm Cryptid Pet Costume Contest in front of the Fayette County Courthouse

12:00pm-4:00pm Mothmanor Open House

12:30pm-1:30pm Bigfoot Hunt Led by Les O’ Dell at the Gaines Estate – $5.00

2:30pm-3:30pm Bigfoot Hunt Led by Les O’ Dell at the Gaines Estate – $5.00

 

Fayetteville’s Participating Cryptid Crawl Art Walk & Cryptid Stops

$ fee for workshops/activities/food/merchandise
R reservations required
* hosting a Cryptid Art Walk Vendor

ACE Adventure Gear – Cryptid fun + Crazy Craft Lady cryptid merch $ *

Aris House Vintage – Vintage treasures + porch vendors & Holy O’s $ *

Cathedral Café – Cryptid-inspired menu specials + Shenandoah Sasquatch located between Very Rare Vintage and Cathedral Café $ *

D & K Collectibles – Collectibles + Crick Apiary $ *

Enjoyed Again – Cryptid-themed apparel & finds, children’s cryptid book unveiling! $ *

ENRG Vans – Magical Morsels Emporium Bakery $ *

Escape- A- Torium – WV-themed escape rooms including ScareBnB + Girl Scout Cookies $ *

Fayetteville Visitor Center – Artist Adam Weaver, Official Cryptid Weekend Posters, Cryptid Scavenger Hunt Info, and Junior Cryptozoologist Program $ *

The Gaines Estate – Dining + Appalachian Ghost Tours Bigfoot Hunt & Paranormal Investigations R $

Great Googly Moogly – Unique finds $ *

The Hobbit Hole – Unique treasures $

Lost Appalachia Trading Co – Cryptid themed merch + artist Matt Cook $ *

Love Hope Center for the Arts – Cryptid art show *

Maggie’s Pub – Themed drinks $

Mayari – Tons of cryptid merch $

Mountain Magnolia Artisan Co-op & Bakery – WV Cryptid talk, crytpid merch, mothman felting workshop, Ghost Tours R $

New River Yoga – Cryptid themed meditations, check schedule R $

New River Zen – Themed cryptid merch + Bob Bragg, author of “No Direct Evidence: The Story of the Missing Sodder Children + some of the WV Book Companies Cryptid collection $ *

Pies and Pints – Festival food stop along the crawl $

Rangefinder Coffee – Specialty themed drinks brewed for curious travelers $

Secret Sandwich Society – Specialty cryptid cocktails + artist Wild Willow $ *

Southside Junction Tap House – Themed drinks + artist Storm Mountain Creations $ *

The Take Out – Delicious food + Dr. Jekyll’s Institute of Monster Studies pop-up experience $ *

Very Rare Vintage – Vintage finds $

Water Stone Outdoors – Appalachian Ghost Tours meet & greet table *

Wisteria Gifts – Unique gifts & Bigfoot merch $

 

Additional Event Information

 

Cryptid Scavenger Hunt

Mysterious creatures have been spotted throughout downtown Fayetteville… can you find them all?

Join the Cryptid Scavenger Hunt, a self-guided adventure that takes you on a quest through participating locations along the Cryptid Crawl. Search for hidden cryptids, explore local shops, and experience the festival in a fun and interactive way for all ages.

How It Works:

• Pick up your scavenger hunt tracking sheet at the Fayetteville Visitor Center

• Follow the clues and locate cryptids hidden throughout town

• Mark each discovery as you go

• Return your completed sheet to the Visitor Center to receive a small prize (while supplies last)

This activity is self-guided and can be completed at your own pace during Cryptid Weekend — perfect for families, friends, and curious explorers.

Junior Cryptozoologist Program

Calling all young monster hunters and future scientists!

The Junior Cryptozoologist Program invites kids to become official cryptid investigators during Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend. Participants will complete a series of fun, self-guided challenges designed to encourage observation, exploration, and imagination while learning about legendary Appalachian creatures.

How to Participate:

• Pick up your Junior Cryptozoologist field guide at the Fayetteville Visitor Center

• Complete activities and challenges as you explore downtown

• Return your completed guide to the Visitor Center for verification

The first 300 youth participants who complete the program will earn an official Junior Cryptozoologist collectible pin!

Designed especially for kids and families, this self-paced adventure turns the entire town into a living classroom of folklore, creativity, and discovery.

Cryptid Art Show at Love Hope Center for the Arts 

Love Hope Center for the Arts is exhibiting artwork from regional artists inspired by cryptid folklore and Appalachian legends!

In participation with Fayetteville’s exciting new Cryptid Weekend, the Cryptid Art show will run March 7th to March 28th.

Bigfoot Hunts Led by Les O’ Dell

Join us at Fayetteville’s Cryptid Weekend for BIGFOOT HUNTS led by Les O’ Dell

Only $5.00 a person!

Hunt begins at the Gaines Estate

Purchase tickets at the Appalachian Ghost Tours table or this LINK

Dr Jekyll’s Institute of Monster Studies pop-up experience

Explore the monsters of myth, science, and local legend in West Virginia’s weirdest museum, where monsters and science collide.

WV Cryptids: A Mythic Movement & Meditation Journey

Saturday, March 7th 6pm-7pm

Step into the misty mystery of Appalachia for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience: a West Virginia Cryptid Gentle Movement, Meditation & Sound Journey. In this deeply relaxing and imaginative session, you’ll be guided through gentle qigong movement, a vivid forest meditation, and an extended yoga nidra where you encounter the legendary guardians of the mountains — Mothman, Flatwoods Monster, Grafton Monster, and Sheepsquatch — each offering symbolic wisdom for intuition, strength, authenticity, and inner knowing. As crystal bowls and resonant tones close the evening, vibration becomes your guide into deep rest, imagination, and mythic self-connection. This class is perfect for anyone who loves folklore, relaxation, meditation, or simply wants to explore the unseen landscapes within. Come curious. Leave enchanted.

Calling all young storytellers, monster hunters, and cryptid creators!

As part of Fayetteville’s Cryptid Festival, we invite local students in kindergarten through 12th grade to enter our Cryptid Creative Writing Contest for a chance to win a gift basket filled with goodies and local surprises! Create an original story about your favorite cryptid, a cryptid encounter or a invent a brand-new cryptid. Stories can be funny, spooky, adventurous, mysterious — or anything your imagination dreams up. Students are encouraged to include illustrations to go along with their stories.

Who Can Enter?

Local students in kindergarten – 12th Grade

(Winners may be selected by age group depending on submissions.)

Submission Deadline: February 28, 2026

How to Submit: Mail or drop off entries at:

Fayetteville Visitor Center
162 S. Court Street
Fayetteville, WV 25840

Winners will be announced ahead of the festival and will receive a special cryptid-themed gift basket!