Historic newspaper image with courtesy of the Bladenboro Council. (Boosttheboro.com)
By Anayah L. Peterson, Editor-in-Chief
Urban Legends can live on for decades and even centuries. Bladenboro’s “Mysterious Beast” legend has survived since its first appearance in December of 1953. The town now hosts “Beast Fest” annually to remember the mysterious creature that attacked local farms during harvest time. This year is the 15th anniversary of the festival which is always hosted on the weekend of Halloween, Friday and Saturday night, Oct. 28-29, 5:00 -11:00 p.m.
Bladenboro is a small town surrounded by tall pine trees in a swamp like area of North Carolina. The Beast killed livestock and pets late in the evening. It was reported to be a strange large cat-like creature around four to five feet long.
Philip Bullard is a campus police officer at UNCP. He was the Master of Ceremonies for the Miss Lumbee Pageant and Teen Miss Lumbee Pageant. This year at “Beast Fest,” he will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event and a storyteller.
The beast has not been classified to “I think it may have been a panther. Because panthers use to be frequent in this area.
Jan. 5, 1954, the Robesonian published “Armed Hunting Party To Seek Bladenboro’s ‘Vampire Beast.’” It was described as a “vampire beast” that sucks blood from its victims. The victims at the time were animals and livestock.
The Charlotte Observer said that Mrs. Kinlaw was unarmed when the beast attempted to charge at her. After the frightful event, around 500 came to the town to help hunt down the Beast. Some came from Tennessee to join. The beast was never found by anyone nor was it ever identified with a clear description. The legend of the Beast is remaining as a mystery to townsfolk in Bladenboro.
“In future years, hopefully our UNCP homecoming and the “Beast Fest” won’t fall at the same time on the calendar. So, our students will be able to venture out that weekend to enjoy the festival and learn about the folklore,” Bullard said.
The festival admission is free and will feature amusement rides and vendors along with entertainment some other free activities.
If You Are Going
Bladenboro “Beast Fest” Description:
100 S. Main Street, Bladenboro, NC 28320
Admission: Free
Time and Day: Friday Oct. 28, 5:00 p.m. – Saturday Oct. 29 11:00 p.m.
The Festival is a 41-minute drive from UNCP