Ghosts, Bigfoot and UFOs: Monster Fest coming to downtown Canton next year

Ed Balint, The Repository
·4 min read
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CANTON – The filmmaker behind the "Minerva Monster" documentary and scores of other films about the strange and mysterious will be hosting "Monster Fest" in the summer of 2023 in downtown Canton.

Seth Breedlove and his Wadsworth-based Small Town Monsters production company announced Tuesday that Monster Fest will convene on June 3 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Think of it as the Super Bowl or indoor Woodstock for Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts and other unexplained, weird stuff.

Monster Fest will welcome scores of authors, researchers, investigators, filmmakers and podcasters who specialize in subjects such as Bigfoot, paranormal phenomena and UFOs.

Presale tickets are available online for $20.50 at www.smalltownmonsters.com/stmmonsterfest or for $25 at the door the day of the event. VIP tickets also will be available, which affords early entry into Monster Fest, reserved seating in the live podcast room, a T-shirt and several other perks.

Seth Breedlove and his Small Town Monsters film company have released several Bigfoot-related films and documentaries, including "On The Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery," part of an ongoing series about the search for Sasquatch.
Seth Breedlove and his Small Town Monsters film company have released several Bigfoot-related films and documentaries, including "On The Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery," part of an ongoing series about the search for Sasquatch.

Seth Breedlove: There is a huge interest in Bigfoot, ghosts and UFOs in Canton region

In 2015, Breedlove's documentary-style film "Minerva Monster" explored the reported sightings of a large, hairy creature in the 1970s in Paris Township in Stark County.

Breedlove's catalog now features a slew of films dedicated to unusual folklore and bizarre phenomena, from cryptids to the "Mothman" to witches to UFOs to the paranormal.

And his pursuit of the elusive Bigfoot has continued with a recent expedition in Alaska.

The "project ended up morphing into two different titles during our shoot due to the number of interviews we landed," Breedlove said this week in an email. "The 2022 title is 'On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Last Frontier,' which will explore Alaska's rich history of Bigfoot sightings and lore.

"Then in 2023, we're going to release a second movie that is more focused on missing persons cases possibly relating to Bigfoot and some of the darker aspects of the subject in the state of Alaska," he added. "That is going to be the film we premiere at the (Canton Palace Theatre) on June 2, prior to our Monster Fest launch next year."

Seth Breedlove, of Small Town Monsters, looks at his cellphone in what's known as the "Jesus Room" at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. The room is believed to be a hotbed of paranormal activity during investigations and ghost hunts. Breedlove and his crew visited the famous former prison recently to film an episode of "On the Trail of Hauntings."

Tickets will be made available for the new film through the theater's website prior to Monster Fest.

"I've wanted to bring an event like this to Canton since the success of our 'Minerva Monster' events back in 2015 and 2016," Breedlove told The Canton Repository. "It was clear there is a huge interest in these topics around this region back then.

"I grew up in the area here, as well, and I love Stark County and want more people to find it and discover all that we have going on here," he added. "I believe this event will draw people from all over the country, just as Minerva Monster Day did a few years ago."

Monster Fest will be at the Doubletree Hilton hotel in downtown Canton on June 3 next year. Seth Breedlove, a filmmaker known for his work on the "Minerva Monster" is heading the event, which will include researchers and podcast hosts.
Monster Fest will be at the Doubletree Hilton hotel in downtown Canton on June 3 next year. Seth Breedlove, a filmmaker known for his work on the "Minerva Monster" is heading the event, which will include researchers and podcast hosts.

More: Finding Bigfoot: Filmmaker says he encountered hairy creature in Minerva-area wilderness

More: REVIEW: Search for Bigfoot hits silver screen

Filmmaker Seth Breedlove, of the Wadsworth-based Small Town Monsters, stands along a path in the Minerva area Wilderness last month. Breedlove's latest YouTube film project explores what he believes is an undiscovered creature that has been roaming the wilderness.
Filmmaker Seth Breedlove, of the Wadsworth-based Small Town Monsters, stands along a path in the Minerva area Wilderness last month. Breedlove's latest YouTube film project explores what he believes is an undiscovered creature that has been roaming the wilderness.

The 40-year-old Bolivar native said he has been considering and planning Monster Fest for the last two years.

Vendors, artists and guest speakers also will be at the event. A special area will be dedicated to live podcast recordings.

More: Monsters, aliens and creatures: Filmmaker finds unique niche

More: Filmmaker explores the paranormal at Mansfield Reformatory, site of 'Shawshank Redemption'

More: New Bigfoot film at Canton Palace Theatre provides 'escapism' from pandemic

The 330 Bar & Grill inside the hotel will feature a menu themed with the event.

Breedlove said it's a family-friendly convention, and children 12 and under will be admitted free.

Guests will include Hollywood screenwriter Richard Hatem ("The Mothman Prophecies"); podcasters Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess of "Astonishing Legends," which boasts a listenership in the millions; and Jim Harold of Cleveland who has been podcasting about the paranormal for about 20 years.

More guests will be announced in the future, with a focus on Bigfoot investigators.

Film director Seth Breedlove, of Small Town Monsters, sets up a shot of the outside of the Ohio State Reformatory, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory for an episode of his "On the Trail of Hauntings" series.
Film director Seth Breedlove, of Small Town Monsters, sets up a shot of the outside of the Ohio State Reformatory, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory for an episode of his "On the Trail of Hauntings" series.

"The idea behind the event is to create a true 'Comic Con' atmosphere surrounding cryptids and the paranormal and, especially, Bigfoot," Breedlove said. "Our event will be bringing in some of the most insightful and well-known figures in this field, and people will have a chance to hear them speak and to meet and talk with them, one-on-one.

"We're looking to celebrate our legends here rather than solely throw some sort of stone-face serious conference," he added. "It's one of the reasons we're so adamant about the event being free for young children and family-friendly in general."

Reach Ed Balint at (330)580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

Filmmaker Seth Breedlove, left, and crew members Heather Moser and Mark Matzke stand with what Breedlove says is the cast of an unidentified foot print he collected while working on "The Bigfoot Project" film in the rural Minerva area.
Filmmaker Seth Breedlove, left, and crew members Heather Moser and Mark Matzke stand with what Breedlove says is the cast of an unidentified foot print he collected while working on "The Bigfoot Project" film in the rural Minerva area.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Monster Fest coming to downtown Canton, Ohio, in summer 2023