MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (Heartland News) - Downtown Murphysboro will once again embrace its most famous folklore legend when the annual Big Muddy Monster Festival returns on Saturday, June 20, bringing a full day of cryptid-themed fun, community activities and southern Illinois storytelling.
The festival, inspired by the reported 1973 Big Muddy Monster sightings, will transform the city’s historic downtown into a hub for visitors interested in local legends and unexplained phenomena.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the intersection of 13th and Walnut Streets will host an open-air cryptid market featuring vendors and limited-edition festival merchandise.
Attendees can also participate in a downtown shop hop, enjoy themed food and drink specials, compete in an ice cream eating contest at Small Town Scoop, and take part in a special craft activity at Miranda’s Loom.
Educational and entertainment programming begins at 10 a.m. inside the historic Liberty Theatre, where guest speakers will discuss regional folklore, cryptid encounters, and other mysterious stories connected to Southern Illinois.
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At 3 p.m., festivalgoers can attend a screening of Pond Creek Monster: Bigfoot and High Strangeness, a documentary exploring one of the area’s most enduring legends.
Admission to all Liberty Theatre programs is free, but organizers are encouraging donations to support cultural programming and preservation efforts.
The festival extends beyond downtown with a Big Muddy Monster Search Party hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offering participants an opportunity to explore locations connected to local folklore.
Additional festivities throughout the weekend include the Blues Brothers Block Party on Friday and an official afterparty at Big Muddy Brewery.
Organizers say the festival is about more than cryptids, serving as a celebration of Murphysboro’s unique identity, local businesses, and storytelling traditions.
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“Each year, the Big Muddy Monster Festival brings together residents, visitors, and storytellers in a way that feels uniquely Southern Illinois,” an organizer said. “It’s part folklore, part community gathering, and entirely Murphysboro.”
More information about the festival can be found on the event’s Facebook page and official website.
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