Bigfoot, Mothman and the Loch Ness Monster — these creepy creatures have haunted folklore for centuries in scary stories told around campfires and at sleepovers. Now, these beasts have come to life in Ypsilanti.
On Oct. 24, 2025, the Ypsilanti Freighthouse hosted the first-ever Ypsilanti Cryptid Festival, a collaboration of more than 12 horror-themed vendors, musicians and filmmakers. The event ran from 4-10 p.m., including a showcase of horror films created by local creators to close out the event.
How it all began
EMU alum and previous reporter for The Eastern Echo Krista Kangas originally pitched the Ypsilanti Cryptid Festival as an effort to promote her short film “Nerd Series,” a collection of clips from a longer-form series she had created. The festival was also intended to be a chance to present the history of cryptids and local folktales to Ypsi residents.
However, Krista’s outline of the event changed after a chance meeting with the music group Fangs and Twang while they performed at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse…