"POINT PLEASANT, W. Va. Every September, the streets in this tiny town along West Virginia's border with Ohio are taken over by Mothman, a mysterious creature that, like Bigfoot, has inspired books, movies, podcasts and devoted fans. It's the 2025 Mothman Festival, and many attendees are in costume, walking beneath giant inflatables ranging from Mothman with filigreed wings and bulging red eyes to the Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. For an event celebrating a dark and mysterious being, the vibe is surprisingly uplifting."
"Mothman's local origins lie in a late-night sighting in 1966, when two young couples reported seeing and being chased by a towering winged humanoid creature just outside of town (more on that below). The extraordinary story sparked furious interest and established Mothman as a famous cryptid, or unverified creature. But its effect on Point Pleasant, its residents and economy and its many fans is undeniably real."
"On this sunny weekend in late September, the festival overflows Point Pleasant's small downtown. Musicians set up in the streets, and bands play in the amphitheater along the Ohio River. Vendors sell "moth floss" (cotton candy), lemonade, tacos and noodles. People line up for pictures with the large silver Mothman statue often including front and rear angles, due to the figure's famously shapely derriere, dubbed the "Shiny Hiney." Summer Maddux is visiting from Sacramento, Calif., and she's wearing a dramatic costume that's promptin"
Every September Point Pleasant fills with Mothman-themed revelers for the 2025 Mothman Festival, with attendees in costume and giant inflatables lining downtown. The festival features musicians, bands in the Ohio River amphitheater, and vendors selling cotton candy, lemonade, tacos and noodles. Visitors line up to photograph the large silver Mothman statue, including its famously shapely rear nicknamed the "Shiny Hiney." Mothman lore traces to a 1966 late-night sighting of a towering winged humanoid that sparked national interest and established Mothman as a notable cryptid. The festival draws fans from across the country and boosts local tourism while celebrating the town's riverside charm.
Read at www.npr.org
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