By Dr. John Stamey
Regardless of what non-believers might say, Bigfoot is alive and doing well! Whether Bigfoot is alive in your mind, in your reading (Facebook groups, books, TV), or prompting you to venture out into the woods for some quality nature time, Bigfoot is in a huge uptrend. While you may not personally believe in Bigfoot, don’t turn your nose up at the impact the big guy can have on your community.
The BFRO (Bigfoot Research Organization) gives a map and data of reported Bigfoot sightings in your area or throughout your state. This map and information can be found at www.bfro.net/gdb. The top 20 states for sightings, as reported through February 18, 2019 include:
Alabama 98
Arkansas 103
California 440
Colorado 124
Florida 324
Georgia 132
Illinois 298
Kentucky 113
Michigan 217
Missouri 146
North Carolina 96
New York 108
Ohio 289
Oklahoma 95
Oregon 250
Pennsylvania 116
Tennessee 99
Texas 237
Washington 658
West Virginia 102
Washington, California, and Florida lead the way with BFRO-reported sightings.
Along with interesting stories and photos from sightings, Bigfoot can actually have a positive impact in your community. Here are three ways Bigfoot can help your neck of the woods:
- Conferences and festivals bring in additional revenue and notoriety for the sponsoring location and city.
- Many communities like the idea of being associated with something interesting, fun and different — especially smaller communities.
- Kids love Bigfoot. A costumed 6′ tall Bigfoot has been the hit of the Tennessee Bigfoot Conference for two years. Admittedly, we are fortunate to have a city park where elementary school students visit in droves every Friday. However these kids “go nuts” to have their picture made with our kid-friendly cryptid as he makes an appearance at the park.
Bigfoot Conferences
In five years of working with Bigfoot events and conferences, the quality of people attending has been in my experience, quite high. They are usually friendly people with a sincere interest in the subject, or they have a personal story to share. Where can you attend Bigfoot Conferences? Below, we present a (partial) list compiled from personal experience and the use of our favorite website, TheBigfootPortal.com, a central source for information on Bigfoot and related events:
MARCH
- March 9-10, 2019 – Oklahoma Bigfoot Symposium (Stillwell, OK) — www.facebook.com/OklahomaBigfootSymposium
APRIL
- April 12, 2019 – Southeast Texas Bigfoot Conference (Walker County, TX) — southeasttexasbigfoot.com
- April 27-29, 2019 – Georgia Bigfoot Conference (Clayton, GA) — GeorgiaBigfootConference.com
MAY
- May 4, 2019 – Ohio Bigfoot Conference (Salt Fork State Park Lodge, Lore City, OH) — ohiobigfootconference.org
JUNE
- June 8-9, 2019 – NC Bigfoot Conference (Raleigh, NC) — http://NCbigfootConference.com
- June 29, 2019 – ECBEO Virgina Bigfoot Conference (Waynesboro, VA) — www.virginiabigfootcon.com
AUGUST
- August 17, 2019 — Oregon Bigfoot Bash (Troutdale, OR) — www.oregonbigfootfestival.com
SEPTEMBER
- September (Labor Day Weekend) — International Bigfoot Conference (Kennewick, WA) — www.facebook.com/Internationalbigfootconference
- September (Labor Day Weekend) Bigfoot Daze Parade and Festival (Willow Creek, CA, annual festival) — bigfootdaze.com
- September (Labor Day Weekend) Bigfoot Jamboree (Happy Camp, CA, annual festival since 1966) — www.bigfootjamboree.org
- September 7-8, 2019 – Cryptid Con (Frankfort, KY) — http://www.CryptidCon.com
- September 14, 2019 – Western NC Bigfoot Festival (Marion, NC) — www.facebook.com/wncbigfootfestival
- September (TBA) Woodbooger Festival (Norton, VA) — www.woodboogerfest.com
OCTOBER
- October 5-7, 2019 — SC Bigfoot Conference (Myrtle Beach, SC) — SCbigfootConference.com
- October 11-12, 2019 — Chautauqua Lake Bigfoot Expo (Mayville, NY) — www.bigfootexpo.com
- October 18, 2019 — Texas Bigfoot Conference (Jefferson, Texas) — www.facebook.com/events/1089369057905059
- October 25-27, 2019 — Tennessee Bigfoot Conference (Kingsport, TN) — TennesseeBigfootConference.com
NOVEMBER
- November 22-23, 2019 – Sasquatch Summit Research Conference (Grays Harbor, WA) — www.sasquatchsummit.com
Bigfoot is the Cool Kid in School
How popular is Bigfoot on Facebook? From right at 200,000 members in 94 Facebook Groups, the average number of individuals were members of ten Bigfoot groups. This number leads us to 20,000 huge fans of Bigfoot” who can be easily identified, nationwide. When you add an additional estimated 80% of additional groups which are related to “Sasquatch” and “Cryptid” it is easy to see at least 35,000 hard-core fans of Bigfoot, just in Facebook groups alone.
Bigfoot Column Associated Resources
You can get your “Bigfoot Fix” every week at the BigfootAndCompany.com podcast, usually held from 4-5:30pm. Hosts Matt Delph and Dr. John interview some very interesting adventurers who go out in the forest every week looking for evidence of Bigfoot. The two are also in charge of the popular Facebook group MECRO (Mountain Empire Cryptid Research Organization) on Facebook. If you have some time, check out the podcast (it can be downloaded at any time) or join the MECRO Facebook group.
In the Next Bigfoot Column
Watch for upcoming details on the NC Bigfoot Conference, to be held in Raleigh, NC, in the next Bigfoot Column. Don’t miss it!
Cryptid: a creature whose existence has yet to be proven by science. For example, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Wampus Cat, and the Lizard Man.
____
Dr. John Stamey is producer of the ScaryCast.com podcast. Dr. John Stamey received his doctorate from NC State University in Raleigh, NC. During his three years in that program, he was also a research associate for the Rhine Research Center in Durham, NC. He’s author of the book is “Bigfoot Explorers” and organizes the annual SC Lizardman Festival, Tennessee Bigfoot Conference, and Charlotte CryptoCon. Follow Dr. Stamey on Twitter at @realSCLizardman.
