Wild, Wonderful and Weird: West Virginia Mothman Festival returns

Spencer Toy, Staff Writer

September 22, 2023

Mothman statue in downtown Point Pleasant

Has something ever happened to you that you couldn’t explain? Have you seen something you didn’t quite believe? Every year, the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, invites those who embrace the eerie and seek the mystery of the unknown to the much-anticipated West Virginia Mothman Festival.

This unique event, which has been captivating locals and visitors alike since its inception in the early 2000s, is a celebration of the legendary Mothman, a mystical winged humanoid creature several people reported seeing in Point Pleasant in the 1960s. As the festival returned on Sept. 16 and 17, enthusiasts and curiosity seekers gathered in Point Pleasant to partake in the festivities and immerse themselves in the world of the Mothman.

Along the bustling streets of Point Pleasant, past the mystical Mothman Museum, located right beside the beautiful chrome Mothman statue, visitors to the festival can find the BallyRaven adventurer’s outpost. Kristen Edgerton, the owner and artist behind BallyRaven, graciously agreed to share her thoughts on the festival and why she keeps returning year after year.

“It’s honestly, it’s the best cryptid festival I’ve ever been to,” she said. “They have such a great collection of artists.”

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Edgerton’s presence at the festival was a testament to the creative energy that thrives there. Her art, showcased under the BallyRaven brand, was a fusion of cryptid and folklore-inspired themes showcasing the cryptids that hide in the hills of the world.

The presence of Edgerton and other artists attests to the fact that the West Virginia Mothman Festival is about more than the creature for which it is named; it’s a celebration of the artistic spirit that thrives in the face of the unknown. This festival reflects the enduring magic of Point Pleasant and the magnetic allure of the Mothman.

So, if you find yourself in Point Pleasant when the annual festival returns on Sept. 21-22, 2024, don’t be surprised if you, too, become ensnared by the mysterious charm of the Mothman. After all, in this small town, where fact and folklore clash with reality, anything is possible.

About the Contributor

Spencer Toy, Staff Writer

Spencer Toy is a 21-year-old from Huntington, West Virginia. He is a sophomore at Shawnee State University and majors in communication with a minor focused in photography. Toy is inspired by his father, who also works in the reporting field back in Huntington. Toy's goal when writing is to inform the local area of events and to inspire people to plan their own entertainment. Toy wants to write about things outside Ohio, stating that he wants to “go somewhere, do something.” One thing Toy hopes to cover in a future article is the Mothman festival that takes place in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, every year. This will not be Toy’s first position in journalism, though. He also has worked for the Kricker Hub as a freelance photographer. One of his responsibilities was documenting events by taking photos of gatherings and the people who attended them. When asked if he had any fears about going into journalism, Toy said that he does not necessarily feel scared. “I have more hope than fears,” he said. Having past experience helps ease any fears others may have and lets him focus more on the positive potential of what may happen. Toy's only apprehension is that this is a completely new environment for him. With his aspirations and past experience, Toy surely will be a great addition to the Chronicle.