The legend of the legendary beast is back in the spotlight as the 2025 Fouke Monster Festival returns Friday and Saturday, April 25–26, promising a weekend full of mystery, monsters, and a little bit of Texarkana history.
Hosted at 201 E. Redcut Road in Fouke, Arkansas, the annual event celebrates the folklore of the famed Fouke Monster, Arkansas’ own Bigfoot-like creature made famous by the 1972 cult classic The Legend of Boggy Creek.
This year’s festival lineup includes an impressive roster of speakers and researchers known for their work in cryptozoology and paranormal phenomena. Among them: Chester Moore, Todd Neiss, Daniel Allan Jones, Jeff Stewart, and Mitchel Whittington, as well as Fouke Mayor Terry Purvis, who will help kick things off Saturday morning.
Friday Night Features a Chilling Twist
The festival opens Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. with a catered dinner, followed at 8:30 p.m. by a special presentation from Chester Moore on the Phantom Killer of Texarkana — the infamous unsolved case that shook the twin cities in the 1940s and inspired the film The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
A Full Saturday of Bigfoot Talks and Bus Tours
On Saturday, April 26, doors open at 9:00 a.m., with guest speakers scheduled throughout the day. Highlights include:
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10:00 a.m. – Opening remarks from Mayor Terry Purvis
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10:15 a.m. – Author and storyteller Mitchel Whittington
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11:30 a.m. – Daniel Allan Jones, host of The Vortex
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1:30 p.m. – Outdoor survivalist and researcher Jeff Stewart
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2:45 p.m. – Cryptid expert Chester Moore returns
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4:00 p.m. – Veteran Bigfoot investigator Todd Neiss
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5:00 p.m. – Q&A panel with all speakers
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6:00 p.m. – Festival closes
In addition to the presentations, attendees can browse a variety of vendors, enjoy local food options, and even hop aboard guided bus tours that will visit locations featured in The Legend of Boggy Creek and other legendary spots tied to the Fouke Monster sightings.
Organizers say whether you’re a full-blown Bigfoot believer, a fan of Arkansas folklore, or just curious about the stories that have put this small town on the map, the festival is sure to offer something for everyone.
“If you’re even a little interested in the Bigfoot phenomenon,” one organizer said, “this is the event to attend.”
For more information, follow the Fouke Monster Festival on social media or head down to 201 E. Redcut Road on April 25–26 and see what’s lurking in the woods of southwest Arkansas.
More information at their WEBSITE.
