Finding Bigfoot Festival
Since I was a child, I have been fascinated with Bigfoot, and have read books and watched many documentaries about the subject. It was one documentary I saw as a kid that got me started and it’s been a lifelong interest in Bigfoot. Recently, I encountered an article from Times-Standard News on the Finding Bigfoot Festival in Willow Creek. The town was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage. The festival was organised by Animal Planet, an American television channel that features the long-running and very popular documentary series titled Finding Bigfoot. It’s an interesting program that follows several researchers and explorers on their quest to investigate the existence of Bigfoot.
The 1967 Bigfoot footage by the late Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin was recorded in Bluff Creek Forest, about 36 miles from the town of Willow Creek. The two men were riding in the countryside when they saw a large Bigfoot walking across a washed-out creek bed. The area was strewn with trees and debris from recent floods but the creature had no issues traversing the train with great agility. The Bigfoot was later identified to be female and she has since become known by the name Patty. In the film, you can see her briefly pausing to look at the two men, without ever breaking her stride, before disappearing into the forest. Until today, the footage is considered as one of the most convincing pieces of evidence of Bigfoot’s existence.
The film has never been conclusively disproven by any video experts as a hoax or fake so the film is very, very famous among Bigfoot enthusiasts. And because it was filmed near to Willow Creek, the town has become basically the Bigfoot capital of the world. I was able to visit Willow Creek in 2014 and enquired about how to get to the location of the film, but was told the terrain has changed too much over the last 50 years that it’s very difficult to locate now.
Anyway, it is nice to see that the Patterson-Gimlin film was celebrated after 50 years since it was launched, and many people are still fascinated with Bigfoot. Willow Creek is a quaint little town and I very much enjoyed my time there, not just for Bigfoot but for incredible nature and environment too. This is one event I had no idea about. I wish I was able to join in this event as it really looks like the kind of place for me. It is hard to find Bigfoot enthusiasts where I live if not impossible and it would be wonderful to be among people who have this interest. I really wish I could have made it to this event in Willow Creek. Do enjoy the photos below, it looks like the Festival was well-attended and a lot of fun.
Tsem Rinpoche
Finding Bigfoot Festival celebrates iconic 1967 film
Hundreds of Bigfoot enthusiasts and fans attended Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot Festival on Saturday. Some attendees even dressed up. Natalya Estrada — The Times-Standard
By: Natalya Estrada (nestrada@times-standard.com | @natedoge4412 on Twitter)
Bob Gimlin took photos with fans and signed autographs as he walked around the Finding Bigfoot Festival in Willow Creek on Saturday. Gimlin is credited with being one of the filmmakers in the Patterson-Gimlin film which reportedly recorded footage of Bigfoot near Bluff Creek in Humboldt County. Natalya Estrada — The Times-Standard
The small town of Willow Creek and its big legend were out and about on Saturday, catering to none other than their favorite furry mascot: Bigfoot.
With dozens of vendors and nearly 2,000 attendees, the small park area behind Camp Kimtu was invaded by t-shirts, buttons, books and foot casts for Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot Festival.
Among the Bigfoot lore were plenty of Bigfoot believers, like Craig Woolheater who traveled with his wife from Dallas, Texas, to arrive just in time for the festival.
“We just got here at 5:30 a.m. and checked into the Bigfoot Motel,” Woolheater said. “So far I like it here. There’s some great vibes and I’m a fan of the show.”
Woolheater was selling Bigfoot lunch boxes, patches and key chains and said Animal Planet’s show “Finding Bigfoot” featured a reenactment of his experience with Bigfoot in one of its episodes.
Several of the show’s stars were at the festival to sign autographs and greet fans, including James “Bobo” Fay, Cliff Barackman, Matt Moneymaker and Ranae Holland, who travelled to Humboldt County to host the 50th anniversary of the Roger Patterson-Bob Gimlin film that reportedly recorded Bigfoot walking near Bluff Creek.
“That film’s what got me into Bigfoot,” Fay said, later adding that he was 5 years old when he first saw the footage. “It was a lot of people’s first exposure to Bigfoot. It was an iconic film for a lot of people.”
Fay said his first encounter was on May 21, 2001 near the Bald Hills in Klamath, where he was logging with a few local tribal members.
“I’m sitting on a beach chair, holding still. I’ve never been afraid of the woods before, I was never worried,” Fay said. “All of sudden I hear this rustling behind me and this deepest growl maybe 6 feet behind me at the treeline.
“That intensity hit me and I was just totally discombobulated,” he continued. “My eyes watered and I couldn’t see straight. I just knew to get away from that sound. There was no doubt in my mind. Anyone who was there would have known what was going on.”
Festival attendees like Mike Rinnan, of Medford, Oregon, were also excited to meet Bob Gimlin, one of the filmmakers behind the Patterson-Gimlin film. Rinnan said he attended a speech at Medford High School 50 years ago, when he was about 7 years old.
“I saw the Patterson-Gimlin film when I was little and it got me really fascinated with Bigfoot,” Rinnan said. “I saved a book I got from the event and I’m hoping Bob [Gimlin] will sign it.”
The now 85-year-old Gimlin casually walked around the festival greeting guests and posing for photos with fans. He said being back in Willow Creek made him appreciative of the community and natural wonders of the area.
Gimlin was also presented by the Willow Creek Chamber of Commerce with a street named after him on Friday called Gimlin Way.
“It’s very special,” Gimlin said. “I never expected it and was so amazed for it to even happen. It’s really good to be back here [in Willow Creek] and to see Bobo and the rest of the crew. You know its kind of like coming home to see the family.”
He also said he was glad generations of cryptozoology fans were able to believe in Bigfoot since the film’s debut in 1967.
“There are so many people that I talk to that don’t believe that these mountain folks exist and they do exist and they’re not a person out there that you need to fear. They’re a person you need to respect very highly,” he said. “I believe that [Bigfoot’s] here to be friends with us.”
Source: http://www.times-standard.com/article/NJ/20170429/NEWS/170429862
More pictures from the Finding Bigfoot Festival
Many people lined up to meet the Finding Bigfoot TV show cast. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
The legendary Bob Gimlin (center). Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Bob Gimlin under the street sign named after him in Willow Creek – Photo by Sasquatch Chronicles Blog
Bigfoot author Dr. Matthew A. Johnson took a selfie with friends. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Dr. Matthew A. Johnson and some Bigfoot prints. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Finding Bigfoot TV show cast, James ‘Bobo’ Faye gave his autograph to his fans. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Bobo posed for pictures with his fans. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Finding Bigfoot TV show cast member, Cliff Barackman posed with a fan. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Bounce houses for the children. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Bigfoot souvenirs. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
An artist created displayed his creativity at the event. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Bigfoot painting in progress. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Blonde Bigfoot sculpture. Photo by Christian Pennington, North Coast Journal
Chewbacca at the Finding Bigfoot Festival. Photo by Natalya Estrada, The Times-Standard
Dan and Shelby Allen with their children, Bryson and Bryanna, showed off their family’s Bigfoot decorations at the Finding Bigfoot Festival in Willow Creek. Photo by Natalya Estrada, The Times-Standard
Photo by Natalya Estrada, The Times-Standard
Photo by Natalya Estrada, The Times-Standard
Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/bigfoot-paterson.mp4
Other sources:
- http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2017/05/searching-for-sasquatch/
- https://www.northcoastjournal.com/AEBlog/archives/2017/05/04/bigfootin
- https://sasquatchchronicles.com/bob-gimlin-at-willow-creek-april-29th-2017/
- http://photos.times-standard.com/2017/04/29/photos-finding-bigfoot-festival/
For more interesting information:
- The Bigfoot category on my blog
- I was in Willow Creek
- The Mysterious Monsters – narrated by Peter Graves
- China’s bigfoot
- Nepal is the land of spirtuality, beauty and Mystery and the Yeti
- Japanese Mountain Climbers Say They Found Yeti Footprints
- Malaysia Scientists to Hunt ‘Bigfoot’ in Rainforest
- The neatest footage on film!
- Monsters & Mysteries In Alaska..Sasquatch!
- 7 Parts-Very Interesting!!
- 5 Years + USD500,000 = EVIDENCE!!
- Pacific Northwest May Finally Have Evidence Bigfoot Exists
- Bigfoot Hunt Is On By Land And By Air
- Researcher Says Bigfoot DNA Analysis Reveals Human Hybrid…Seriously?
- Is this Evidence of Bigfoot?
- Bigfoot Is Real, And We Have DNA To Prove It: Researchers
- Images of the Wildman Inside and Outside Europe
- Researchers go looking for Bigfoot
- Sasquatch (Bigfoot)!!!
- Bigfoot in Kechara????
- Bigfoot hunters claim they have footprint
- Bigfoot Proven?? Must Watch!!!
- Respect Them
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
There is an area near Lumbini, Nepal, they have sightings of Yeti for hundreds of years. So they have signages in the area with Yeti artwork to highlight this. Interesting. TR
(Part 1 of 8)
This museum in Pokhara, Nepal has a section dedicated to Yetis (Bigfoot). Very interesting. I am including some pictures of the inside of this wonderful museum. Do enjoy. ~ Tsem Rinpoche
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 2 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 3 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 4 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 5 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 6 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 7 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
(Part 8 of 8)
In the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara, Nepal, there is a small but comprehensive exhibition on Yetis (Bigfoot). Below are some pictures.
For more information, go to https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/bigfoot-museum-nepal
(click on picture to enlarge)
Curious about the legendary Yeti? Not sure what to believe? Here is an article that explores a range of sources, from folktales to newspaper reports, detailing sightings and encounters with the elusive creature, who has been a part of the very fabric of various Himalayan communities for thousands of years. Read about religious beliefs, myths, fables and stories by scholars and travellers alike, and realise that there is more to the Yeti than you previously thought.
Imagining-the-Wild-Man-Yeti-Sightings-in-Folktales-and-Newspapers.pdf
This is a real awesome documentary on bigfoot. One of the best – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp5eV9nIEjk&feature=youtu.be
In 1967, Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson stumbled across an incredible sight whilst out in Bluff Creek, in the California wilderness. At a creek which had been freshly washed-out by recent floods, they witnessed a female Bigfoot swiftly traverse the rugged landscape. Since their filmed encounter with the Bigfoot, who has since been nicknamed Patty, many have disputed the authenticity of their recording but no one has been able to successfully prove that it is a fake.
Credits for this video goes to entirely to windvale for the original footage. ?
This looks fun and very interesting! Finding Bigfoot Festival! Lol…!!! This is the first time i have seen or heard about it I wonder if we could have this in Kechara Forest Retreat.Bentong,Pahang. Malaysia. Hehe!! 🙂
It’s so pleasing to see hundreds of Bigfoot fans and enthusiasts coming to attend “Animals planet’s finding Bigfoot Festival”. Many of the exciting attendees were seen all happily “dressed-up” in ‘bigfoot costumes’. Most gratifying of all is to see that Paterson-Grimlin Film was celebrated after 50 years since it was launched, as many people the world over, still seem deeply fascinated by Bigfoot! Many would wish they could have made it to this year exciting and interesting festival in Willow Creek to share in the excitment. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see that this was a well-attended and happy celebration, though the film has never been disproven by any Video experts as hoax or fake! So the film remains very, very famous amongst Bigfoot enthusiasts, and like the lengendary Bob Grimlin said in conclusion, “I believe that Bigfoot is here to be friends with us.”
Would be quite fun, reminds me about the Comic Conventions in the US, just probably a bit less commercial about it.
I wonder if Malaysia can also host, all types of conventions about the urban legend and beasts, monsters in Malaysia? 🙂
This would have been fascinating to visit. It’s quite neat that up till this day, this 50 year old video continues to mystify and baffle scientists alike. It’s too bad that after 50 years, no one has been able to prove the existence of Bigfoot despite such compelling evidence like the Patterson-Gimlin footage and other footprint evidences.
It’s just amazing how such a large creature is able to evade mankind for such a long time despite the advancement in forensic science, mapping, GPS, infra-red cameras and so much of other equipment and advancement in these technologies. Hence, I came to this conclusion that Bigfoot are psychic, which is combined with physical prowess and natural wooded habitat allows them to evade man.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article on the celebration of the 50 years’ anniversary of the filming of the footage of the encounter of the Bigfoot by Patterson and GimLin . This encounter took place some 36 miles from Willow Creek. The encounter : the two were out riding in the countryside when they saw this huge Bigfoot (later identified as a female)walking across a washed-out creek bed. She turned briefly pausing to look at them , before she walked away into the forest.
As the film has NEVER BEEN CONCLUSIVELY DISPROVED AS A HOAX OF FAKE, it has become very famous as one of the best pieces of evidence yet of the existence of Bigfoot. Furthermore, the Bigfoot story has been kept alive by fans and by researchers , and especially by the organisers of this festival – the Animal Planet Television channel that has been featuring a long running series :”Finding Bigfoot!” The fact that there is a 50th anniversary celebration here at Willow Creek testifies to how much alive, in the fans’ minds ,is the firm conviction that Bigfoot is out there waiting to be discovered.
As the 85 year old Gimlin says:”These mountain folks(Bigfoot) exist and they’re not a person out there you need to fear. They’re a person you need to respect highly. I believe that Bigfoot’s here to be friends with us”
There are multiple witnesses to a given sighting or encounter with Bigfoot at Willow Creek. They are still fascinated with Bigfoot so much so they have a carnival celebrating the finding of Bigfoot.That is interesting as its the 50th anniversary of the legendary Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage of Bigfoot walking near Bluff Creek.The Patterson-Gimlin film is regarded as one of the strongest evidence for the existence of big foot in a remote mountainous area in northern California in 1967.
Many of Bigfoot enthusiasts, film makers and fans came together to enjoy this Finding Bigfoot festival to proof that bigfoot do exist at that time. Since then ,no more sighting but they do have this festival to commemorate the day caught on the footage.They even have a street name after Bob Gimlin in Willow Creek.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Looks a real carnival alright. Myth or legend remains to be seen but we will have to wait and see if the cast of “Finding Bigfoot” can come with any solid evidence of bigfoot. But, I dread the day they actually get evidence as that may spell the death of bigfoot as everyone will be out to hunt it down.
I just think that some things are not meant to be found.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing with us Finding Bigfoot Festival at Willow Creek. As it is approaching summer, the weather and temperture looks really nice for an outdoor festival to celebrate and commemorate the quest for Bigfoot ever since the Patterson-Gimlin film 50 years ago. It is very nice to see many people show support to each other and keep the legend alive.