POINT PLEASANT, W. Va. — Every September, the streets in this tiny town along West Virginia's border with Ohio are taken over by Mothman, a mysterious creature that, like Bigfoot, has inspired books, movies, podcasts and devoted fans.

It's the 2025 Mothman Festival, and many attendees are in costume, walking beneath giant inflatables ranging from Mothman — with filigreed wings and bulging red eyes — to the Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. For an event celebrating a dark and mysterious being, the vibe is surprisingly uplifting.

"West Virginia's beautiful," says Eric Johnson, who's visiting from Chicago. "And Mothman is to die for," he adds with a smile.

Mothman's local origins lie in a late-night sighting in 1966, when two young couples reported seeing — and being chased by — a

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