Point Pleasant, WV — Every September, this small town along West Virginia’s Ohio River border transforms into a celebration of one of America’s most enduring legends — Mothman, the mysterious winged creature first spotted here nearly 60 years ago.
The 2025 Mothman Festival filled the streets of Point Pleasant with thousands of fans, elaborate costumes, live music, and cryptid-themed food. What began as a modest local gathering has grown into one of the most famous supernatural festivals in the United States.
“West Virginia’s beautiful,” said Eric Johnson, who traveled from Chicago. “And Mothman is to die for.”
The Legend That Took Flight in 1966
Mothman’s origins trace back to November 1966, when two young couples claimed to have encountered a towering, red-eyed, winged creature near the town. The story quickly spread nationwide, inspiring books, films, and an entire cryptid fan culture.
This year’s festival, according to NPR, once again brought Mothman’s legend to life with giant inflatables, themed food like “Moth Floss” (cotton candy), and an endless stream of fans snapping photos with the town’s famous metallic Mothman statue — complete with its polished “Shiny Hiney.”
Fans Celebrate the Myth and the Mystery
On the sunlit streets, festivalgoers in cosplay outfits crowded vendors and stages. Among them was Summer Maddux, visiting from Sacramento, California, dressed in a custom Mothman-inspired outfit.
“I’m in a form-fitting black bodysuit with a hand-painted moth cape, red spectacles, and my own antenna,” Maddux said. “This is my expression of Moth Ma’am.”
Maddux said she first learned about Mothman through a 1990s graphic novel series and finally made her way to West Virginia after decades of fascination.
“I’ve always loved weird stuff, creepy stuff, monsters,” she said. “You’re never too old to be a nerd.”
Other fans, like Johnson, were introduced to the legend through video games such as Persona and Fallout 76, which feature references to the creature. The result is a mix of lifelong enthusiasts, casual visitors, and first-time believers.
A Town Powered by Cryptid Tourism
Inside the Mothman Museum, fans explored decades of memorabilia, eyewitness accounts, and local artifacts. Just blocks away, guest speakers at a local church discussed paranormal research and the creature’s cultural influence.
“They call it the paranormal convention of the East,” said Denny Bellamy, Mason County’s tourism director. “Everyone in that world of the paranormal and cryptids and all that is here.”
What started in 2002 as a one-day event with a few vendors now brings more than 20,000 visitors to a town of fewer than 5,000 residents.
“Our biggest problem starting out was the banks would run out of cash because it was Saturday,” Bellamy recalled. “Now, it’s like Christmas weekend for us — probably as much as all year long together.”
Local shop owners say the festival has permanently boosted the town’s economy. Hope Love, who runs a craft shop called The Flawed Frog, said visitors arrive year-round to shop for Mothman-themed souvenirs.
“About two months ago, I had someone in here from Taiwan and then someone from Germany,” she said. “It’s pretty cool.”
More Than Just a Monster Story
For many, the appeal of Mothman isn’t about proof of existence — it’s about the community, creativity, and curiosity the legend inspires.
Tyler Fields, visiting from Ohio with his children, summed it up best while shopping at the local Piggly Wiggly.
“Does it really matter if there was an actual Mothman?” he said. “No, because everybody believes that something happened, and it’s a giant story.”
With its blend of folklore, family fun, and festival energy, Point Pleasant continues to thrive on the myth that put it on the map.
What are your thoughts on the Mothman Festival and the legend that keeps bringing fans back year after year? Share your views in the comments below.
