A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MOTHMAN FESTIVAL
BY SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY PHOTOS BY SILAS COLEMAN
Appalachian folklore is haunted by characters known as cryptids. Defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, a cryptid is “a creature that is found in stories and that some people believe exists or say they have seen, but that has never been proven to exist.” Some of the world’s most famous cryptids include Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. While perhaps not famous on a global scale, Mothman is one of the more famous mythical creatures in Appalachia, particularly in West Virginia.
Point Pleasant, West Virginia, has long been known as the location of the last Mothman sighting in the late 1960s. According to Folklife Magazine, the first local reports of the sightings were made in November of 1966 and continued until the creature disappeared following the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967.
After his disappearance, the community began asking questions: had Mothman been trying to warn the people of Point Pleasant of the impending tragedy? Was Mothman the one responsible for the disaster? The numerous curiosities surrounding this creature led to a cult following throughout the end of the 20th century and into the early 2000s when the Mothman Festival began.
The first Mothman Festival was held in 2002 as a way to boost tourism in the city of Point Pleasant, as well as to provide an outlet for fans of paranormal activity and Appalachian folklore. The event is held annually during the third weekend of September in the center of Point Pleasant, with Dayton Daily News reporting an attendance of around 15,000 people last year.
From cosplayers to guest speakers, people travel from around the world to experience the Mothman Festival. Festival attractions include live music, vendors, hayrides, a 5k run and involvement in a rich community of cryptid-believers.
Although admission to the festival is free, organizers also include some exclusive attractions for a price. One experience is the TNT Bus Tour, on which a tour guide leads patrons to the World War II bunkers near where Mothman was first sighted. This event gives attendees the chance to get a first-hand look at where the Mothman legend began, and, according to the festival’s website, to “learn about rarely discussed stories and strange encounters from the eyewitnesses point of view.”
Many attendees also use the festival as an excuse to visit the Mothman Museum, the only one of its kind. The museum contains an extensive collection of memorabilia from “The Mothman Prophecies,” a 2002 film created at the height of Mothman’s cult following. The museum also documents eyewitness accounts from Mothman’s residency in Point Pleasant and encourages visitors to “research and uncover the truth” for themselves.
The legend of Mothman has been a staple of the Point Pleasant community for decades. Although the town will always be a part of Mothman's history, it is speculated to have been displaced as the site of his most recent appearance. In 2019, WBEZ Chicago reported “a giant, flying, winged humanoid” had begun surfacing in 2011, with peak sightings reported in 2017. Whether or not these sightings mark the official return of Mothman is unclear, but it may mean a future expansion of the Mothman Festival.
