Your Guide to a Free Weekend in Forest County: Bigfoot Festival Edition

If you're looking for a weekend that costs almost nothing and delivers a story you'll be telling for years, Forest County, Pennsylvania has you covered — especially if you time it around the annual Bigfoot Festival in Marienville.

Tucked into the Allegheny National Forest, Forest County is one of Pennsylvania's least crowded, most wooded corners — nearly half the county sits inside the ANF, and there's not a single stoplight to slow you down. Once a year, that quiet gets interrupted by thousands of Bigfoot believers, skeptics, and the merely curious, all descending on tiny Marienville for a weekend built entirely around America's favorite cryptid.

Here's how to spend a weekend here without draining your wallet.

The Main Event: Forest County Bigfoot Festival

What started in 2020 as a small community idea from the Forest County Business Alliance has grown into one of the region's biggest draws, pulling in upwards of 30,000 people in recent years. Mark your calendar: the 2027 festival runs Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 13 in downtown Marienville — a full three days of activities.

What you'll find once you're there:

• The Bigfoot Hunt. A geocaching-type hunt that sends participants across Marienville and the surrounding woods using clues to track down hidden Bigfoot markers.

  

• The Little Foot Hunt. A gentler, family-friendly version made for kids and for visitors who need an easier, more accessible course — five "little foot" silhouettes are hidden around town, all within easy reach, so everyone can join the search.

• The Biggest Foot Contest, where entrants compete to show off the largest feet in the crowd.

• A Bigfoot Calling Contest, testing who can nail the most convincing (or creative) Sasquatch call.

• A family-friendly 5K walk/run, held Sunday, June 13, open to walkers and runners of all paces.

• A small petting zoo for the younger crowd.

• Live music, vendors, and food trucks filling downtown Marienville all weekend long.

  

• Guest speakers sharing Bigfoot encounters and theories — the 2027 lineup hasn't been announced yet, so keep an eye on the festival's official channels as the date gets closer.

  

  Previous Celebrity Speaker - Turtle Man

The organizers are also working on adding more family and kid-friendly activities for 2027, so expect even more for younger attendees than in past years.

Wandering the festival grounds, browsing vendors, and catching the contests and live bands won't cost you a ticket — you'll mostly just be paying for parking, food, drinks, and any Bigfoot merch you can't resist.

Getting there without the parking headache: Shuttle service has run along PA-66 in past years with two designated pickup points, which is worth looking into if downtown Marienville gets packed.

Free Things to Fill the Rest of Your Free Weekend in Forest County

With three full days of festival, you'll still have plenty of time to explore the rest of Forest County. Here's where to spend those hours.

Stop by MACA. The Marienville Area Civic Association is a good first stop for a local welcome, and it's home to a community pool if you want to cool off between festival stops.

Grab a bite at a local restaurant. Marienville's small-town eateries are part of the charm — worth a stop for lunch or dinner while you're in town.

Float the Clarion River. Bring or rent a tube, kayak, or canoe and spend an afternoon drifting one of Pennsylvania's most scenic rivers.

Hike the Allegheny National Forest. Hundreds of miles of trails wind through half a million acres of public land right in Forest County's backyard.

Watch for eagles at Buzzard Swamp. This is a favorite spot for birdwatchers, with bald eagles and ospreys among the regulars — bring binoculars if you have them.

Bike the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. This former rail line makes for an easy, scenic ride, with a trailhead right in Marienville.

Climb the fire tower at Cook Forest. Cook Forest State Park's fire tower offers sweeping views over the old-growth forest — a great payoff for a short hike.

Where to Stay

You've got options at every budget:

• Free camping in the Allegheny National Forest. Dispersed camping areas throughout the ANF let you pitch a tent at no cost.

• Local campgrounds. For a few more amenities (showers, electric hookups), several campgrounds in the area offer affordable sites.

• Motels and hotels. If you'd rather skip the tent altogether, Forest County and the surrounding area have a handful of motels and hotels — book early, since festival weekend fills up fast.

The Bottom Line

A free weekend in Forest County proves you don't need a big budget to have a big adventure — just good hiking shoes, a sense of humor about cryptids, and maybe a folding chair for the calling contest. Between the festival's free-to-wander atmosphere and the national forest's endless free trails, rivers, and wildlife, this is one of the most budget-friendly weekend trips in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Just don't forget your camera. You never know what you might find in those woods!