10/13/2026
For this spooky season edition of , we are visiting the Chardon Cryptids and Curios Festival! Held this year on Saturday, October 17, the festival brings folklore-inspired tricks and treats to Northeast Ohio.
Cryptids are creatures that people claim to have seen, but whose existence has not been proven. They are often characters in folktales and scary stories, like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and Mothman. The festival’s creator, Jessy Harper, has always been fascinated by folklore, legends, cryptids, and the stories that communities pass down through generations, and she said the festival organizers wanted to create a space where people could celebrate the weird, unusual, and unexplained. The festival also gives local artists, authors, makers, and small businesses a place to share their work while bringing something new and different to Chardon Square.
Visitors will encounter cryptid-themed vendors, oddities, artists, authors, handmade crafts, food trucks, entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to meet some unusual characters along the way. “We also have some fun surprises planned,” Harper said, “so the goal is for people to come curious and leave with a story to tell.”
For Harper, our fascination with the supernatural speaks to fundamental human questions. “I think there’s something really appealing about the unknown. Cryptids and supernatural stories give people a chance to wonder, imagine, and ask 'what if?' They’re also deeply connected to folklore and oral storytelling, which have been part of human culture for thousands of years. Whether someone truly believes in Bigfoot or just loves a good spooky story, there’s a place for everyone in that conversation. I think people are drawn to that sense of mystery and the possibility that there are still things in the world we don’t completely understand.”
