Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference Coming to the Convention Center in Gatlinburg
The 6th Annual Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference will come out of hiding on July 27th for enthusiasts, casuals, and the curious at the Convention Center in Gatlinburg. It’s quite apparent living here that it’s a big deal. Shops—including ours—have a fair share of Sasquatch souvenirs, whether it’s shirts, stickers, or plush figures. The “real” deal may be a mystery, but he’s very visible wherever you go on a walk in town. This conference is a gathering of some important personalities related to the study and search for the human-like creature. Let’s uncover more of the mystery behind this year’s event!
This one-day event opens its doors at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 27th, but if you want to have your 15 minutes…well, maybe 5-10, you can fill out a form on the website here if you’ve had your own Bigfoot encounter. A selection committee will choose 6-10 entries that they feel are the most compelling, and the stage is yours to relive it. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll get an email. Sharing is caring. Be sure to detail the encounter in the fullest to have the best shot to get a slot in between speakers.
Speaking of them, there will be nine renowned individuals introducing themselves and sharing their Sasquatch story and enthusiasm. David Paulides is a highly regarded figure in this field, as he is a writer, researcher, and investigator on mysterious disappearances in various national parks and wilderness areas. He began his career in law enforcement, but a chance conversation with a park ranger sparked his interest in cryptozoology—a pseudoscience and subculture that studies animals whose existence is disputed and mostly unknown. Paulides may be recognized, since he has appeared on many television shows, programs and podcasts. It’s safe to say he is definitely one of the main personalities who will be present for the event.
The rest of the guest list includes: Lyle Blackburn, prominent researcher, author, and media personality; Ryan “RPG” Golembeske, notable researcher and media personality; Tony Merkel, host of “The Confessionals Podcast;’ Amy Bue, researcher and co-founder of Project Zoobook; Shane Corson, field researcher and member of the Olympic Project; Heather Moser, professor, author, and researcher for “Small Town Monsters;” Aaron Deese, former Editor-in-Chief of “Paranormality Magazine” and co-host of “Hey Strangeness” with his wife; and Jessica Mora, a former pharmacist, who now owns her own business selling Sasquatch merchandise.
Tickets for the event start at $30, but go up to $150 for the VIP package, which is now sold out. Until 6 p.m. you can reserve your seat and also browse the various vendors and chat with some podcasters in the vendor hall. If you are disappointed with the Sasquatch merchandise in Gatlinburg, the Convention Center will be your place for specialized and hard-to-find items to gather for your collection.
For an extra $10 following the festivities, you can stay for the screening of “Small Town Monsters Presents “On The Trail of Bigfoot: The Ancients.” Approximate showing will be around 6:30, and you can go here to reserve your extra ticket.
If you’re at least marginally interested in this annual event, be sure to reserve your tickets today. The VIP portion is already sold out, but you can still snatch a seat from between $30-$60. Feed your cryptozoologist desires for nine hours of entertainment and intrigue!
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