Location – Downtown Marion, NC from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 20, Bigfoot Festival Schedule
All events listed below take place on the Courthouse Lawn, located at 21 South Main Street in Marion, NC.
10 a.m. – Festival begins
10:15 a.m. – Festival Dedication and Mayoral Proclamation naming Bigfoot Marion’s official City Animal
10:30 a.m. – Speaker NC Squatch Watchers
The NC Squatch Watchers have been a Bigfoot/paranormal research team for 10+ years. The team features Taylor Cook , Tate Fulbright, Toby Bolick, and [team leader] David Martin.
Focusing on mostly Bigfoot research with occasional ghost hunts, the team has been featured weekly on a local television station, channel 14 WHKY, and their segment has had the highest ratings out of all the shows on that channel.
In addition to their segment on local TV, the team has been interviewed on radio stations such as Night Callers Radio. They have also been contacted about being featured on other radio stations to discuss their research.
NC Squatch Waters are also being featured in a new bigfoot book called “Bigfoot and Woolybooger Tales 2”. Recently added to the team are Taylor Cook’s longtime friends, NFL stars Deangelo Williams and Gary Barnidge.
Within the last 3 years, the team took their encounters and evidence to social media gaining a following on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube of a combined 27,000 fans wanting more.
11:15 a.m. – The Blue Shades Band
Noon – Bigfoot Calling Contest – Registration for this event will take place on the Courthouse Lawn shortly before this event.
Names will be drawn prior to the calling contest to determine the competitors. Those wanting to be in the calling contest can enter the drawing at the Bigfoot 911 booth across from the stage on the courthouse lawn. Cost is $1 per ticket to enter.
12:45 p.m. – The Blue Shades Band
1:30 p.m. – Speakers Lori Wade and Rick Reles
Lori Wade has researched the Bigfoot Phenomenon for over 8 years. She is an Investigator with Bigfoot Field Research Organization.
Since of January 2015, she has attended and been a leader of 26 expeditions, as well as conducting field research on her own.
Wade has hosted 8 BFRO expeditions in North Georgia over the last 3 years and will continue pursuing the creature in this active area, in the future.
In 2017, Wade was involved in a 10 day private excursion into the interior of British Columbia with close friends and fellow investigators. Lori has had 2 class A sightings since beginning her research.
Lori resides with her Husband in Ooltewah,Tn
Rick Reles is a Bigfoot Field Research Organization Investigator, Currently living in Western North Carolina. He is recently retired from 38 years of professional business life, where he traveled the world frequently.
In 2010 while driving across Northern Wisconsin with another business associate, he saw a Sasquatch cross the road ahead of their vehicle. This began Reles interest and research journey into the Bigfoot World.
Reles has attended and helped lead dozens of expeditions in the U.S. and Canada. He speaks at conferences also.
His Field Guide to Bigfoot Structures is in its third edition. Rick is also a partner in IKNOWSQUATCH, a Wisconsin LLC, that sells leading edge Sasquatch related merchandise.
2:15 p.m. – Speaker Zach Bales
Bales is a 33-year-old English teacher and paranormal roadtripper from Somerset, Kentucky.
He is the author of “The Bigfooter’s Atlas.”
Bales spends his spare time creating short films and searching purportedly haunted locations for signs of paranormal activity.
3 p.m. – The Blue Shades Band
3:45 p.m. – Town Hall Meeting
This is a time when individuals can share their sasquatch stories in front of an audience. Bring your best tales of cryptid encounters for this fun and intimate event.
4:45 p.m. – The Blue Shades Band
5:45 p.m. – Closing Ceremonies
WNC Bigfoot Festival 