Goatman Festival returns to Pope Lick Park October 15–18, 2026, for four days celebrating Kentucky folklore, cryptids and the unexplained. The festival features cryptid experts, seminars, live music, outdoor movies, artists, vendors, costume contests, unusual competitions and family-friendly activities inspired by Louisville’s legendary Pope Lick Monster.

Festival hours are 6–10 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m.–midnight Friday, noon–midnight Saturday and noon–10 p.m. Sunday.

General festival admission and parking are free.

No ticket or advance registration is required.

Optional guided tours, the Legend at Pope Lick haunted trail and other upgraded attractions require separate paid admission.

Visit https://goatmanfest.com for the complete schedule and event updates.

The Midwest’s premier cryptid and unknown festival taking place at the home of the Pope Lick Monster.

Enjoy cryptozoology expert meet and greets, seminars, special tours, vendors, movies, music, a haunted trail, and so much more. It is unlike any other cryptid or paranormal event anywhere!

Celebrating 10 Years of Weird

NOTICE: Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult at all times. Adults are responsible for supervising youth in their care throughout the event.

***description from website

THE HAUNTED TRAIL:

• LEGEND AT POPE LICK HAUNTED WOODS
• “This award winning haunted attraction has been terrorizing guests for 10 years, telling the story of the Pope Lick Monster where guests will come face to face with the goatman himself.”
• OCT 15 – 18, 2026
• OPENS AT DUSK

Experiences:

• CREATURE MARKET: OCT 16 – 18
• From occult artifacts to dark art, visit over 50 specialized vendors in our ‘Creature Market’.
• DELICIOUS FOOD: OCT 15 – 18
• A wide variety of local food trucks and vendors offering unique themed refreshments and festival favorites.
• DR. JEKYLL’S INSTITUTE: OCT 17 – 18
• A deep dive into the science of the unknown. Interactive exhibits and rare specimens from the doctor’s private collection.
• BEER GARDEN: OCT 15 – 18
• Relax and enjoy a selection of craft brews and themed cocktails in our atmospheric outdoor garden.
• MYTHICAL PETTING ZOO: OCT 17 – 18
• Get up close and personal with some of the most unusual creatures ever discovered. From baby goats to exotic horned creatures.
• SPEAKERS: OCT 15-17
• Learn from the world’s leading cryptozoologists and paranormal investigators.
• MUSIC: OCT 16 – 18
• Live performances from dark folk and rock bands beneath the Performance Pavillion.
• CREATURE FEATURES: OCT 15 – 17
• Outdoor screenings of classic horror movies and rare cryptid flicks under the stars.
• TOURS OF THE UNKNOWN: OCT 15 – 18
• Guided tours of the Pope Lick, the Trestle and surrounding forest (waiver required).
• COL. SCHILDKNECHT’S SIDESHOW: OCT 16 – 17
• Straight from the legend, experience Col. Schildknecht’s circus sideshow with a twist of macabre. Witness live demonstrations of forbidden techniques and unsettling masterpieces.
• THE HAUNTED TRAIL: OCT 15 – 18
• Experience the scariest haunted trail in Louisville. A trek through the actual Kentucky woods where the legend was born. Beware the bleating in the dark.