Explore Medina’s First Curiosities & Cryptids Festival

October is here, and that means it’s the season of things that go bump in the night. Supernatural creatures from ghosts and goblins to witches and werewolves are celebrated, along with resident Ohio cryptids such as Bigfoot, South Bay Bessie and others. 

Medina is embracing all of the above this year in a new way, thanks to Alicia and Max Frazier, who opened Black Cat Books and Oddities in the city in 2023. They are hosting the inaugural Curiosities & Cryptids Festival on Oct. 5 and 6, both in their shop and on the Medina Square.

The Fraziers say they have noticed an uptick in local interest in cryptids, and since they sell books on the subject in their store, hosting a festival to celebrate our region’s curious creatures felt like a natural next step.

“There’s a real hunger for this type of stuff,” Alicia Frazier says. “We’re just looking for everyone to come out, have a good time, find something curious and maybe visit the store while they’re out here.”

Over two days, both the shop and square will be home to family-friendly entertainment perfect for the first weekend of spooky season. Kids can head to the bandstand, which offers all-day activities and face painting, as well as a spooky story telling with the Flatwoods Monster. Mothman, who is also part of West Virginia lore, is making an appearance for photos.

The square is hosting 100 vendors pedaling curious goods to take home, while on-site food trucks complete the festival atmosphere. Black Cat will also have a tent set up, where attendees can pick up a guide for the scavenger hunt. (Complete this curious journey and you’ll be entered into a $200 prize basket drawing.) Everyone is encouraged to come dressed up and enter the costume contest for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Black Cat Books and Oddities. The store will also announce giveaway prize drawings every hour on the hour.

In addition to the Curiosities & Cryptids festivities, both Black Cat Books and Oddities’ shop — located in two separate houses a short walk from the square — will be open for browsing during the day. Visitors can explore children’s titles, banned books and the Edgar Allan Poe room in house one before heading around the corner to house two for romance and sci-fi selections.

“People have this curiosity about these creatures and Medina hasn’t had anything like this curious festival,” Frazier says. “It fits in with our store pretty well because we cater to the weird, the odd and the unusual.”

To learn more about the festival and Black Cat Books and Oddities, visit blackcatmedina.com.

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