Resembling a pale, ghostly pair of pants, the Fresno Nightcrawler has been the subject of speculation since it was allegedly caught on video nearly 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are just so cute and simple in design,\u201d lead organizer Shirley Jackson<\/a> told The Fresno Bee via phone. \u201cI just think they\u2019re neat.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson hopes the fest \u201ccan be the beginning of more local pride and love in this cryptid that calls Fresno home.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fresno Nightcrawler<\/a> first came to the public\u2019s attention via a video shot by a local resident in 2007, The Fresno Bee previously reported.<\/p>\n Shot in south Fresno, the video shows \u201ctwo very small bipedal creatures walking across this person\u2019s lawn,\u201d Weird Fresno<\/a> content creator Michael Banti told The Bee in 2018.<\/p>\n One version has attracted more than 1.9 million views on YouTube<\/a>, with commenters calling it \u201cabsolutely terrifying\u201d and \u201cstrange and bizarre.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fresno Nightcrawler, also known as the Fresno Alien, is described as an \u201cextremely thin, white humanoid<\/a> with no arms\u201d and two long legs standing a little under 5 feet tall, according to the Cryptid Wiki website.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a source of fascination<\/a> for many, fueling episodes of the TV shows \u201cFact or Faked: Paranormal Files and \u201cThe Proof Is Out There\u201d as well as YouTube series, podcasts and even songs.<\/p>\n The mysterious creature has also inspired plenty of merchandise<\/a>, including Fresno Nightcrawler-themed T-shirts, stickers, hats, tote bags and perfume.<\/p>\n Most recently, mall retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop<\/a> debuted a plush Fresno Nightcrawler toy<\/a> with poseable legs.<\/p>\n Jackson counts herself among the Fresno Nightcrawler\u2019s fans, noting that she has a small plush version created Sarah Andersen for her Cryptid Club series<\/a> and a print by Monsterologist<\/a> artist George Coghill.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a skeptic, so there\u2019s a part of me that thinks it\u2019s all a hoax,\u201d Jackson said of Nightcrawler lore. \u201cBut it\u2019s interesting that there\u2019s a tiny possibility that this is a genuine, weird creature living in our backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n The inaugural Fresno Nightcrawler Fest will take place on Thursday, Oct. 1, at Sour Milk<\/a>, 1474 North Van Ness Ave. in Fresno,<\/p>\n The curated gift shop in Fresno\u2019s historic Tower District<\/a> sells products by independent artists and brands.<\/p>\n The event, which coincides with the October ArtHop<\/a>, runs 5 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n What inspired new Fresno fest?<\/p>\n Jackson said she\u2019s been dreaming about creating a dedicated to the Fresno Nightcrawler \u201cever since I learned about the little guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Encouraged by a friend, Jackson decided to turn her concept into reality.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter helping organize Fresno Zine Fest for the past couple of years with Priscilla of Sour Milk, I\u2019ve gotten more experience so now I feel a lot more confident in being able to organize a small event,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n Jackson drew inspiration from the Mothman Festival<\/a> held every September in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, whch celebrates a legendary local cryptid<\/a>.<\/p>\n She described Fresno Nightcrawler Fest as an independently run event without corporate sponsorship or commercial management.<\/p>\n What can visitors expect at cryptid-themed event?<\/p>\n Highlights of the Fresno Nightcrawler Fest include a themed art show and local artists selling their Fresno Nightcrawler-inspired works.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are possibly going to have either a Fresno Nightcrawler costume contest or just a general Halloween costume contest,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n She is hoping to expand the event next year with more activities.<\/p>\n According to Jackson, all vendors will have at least one Fresno Nightcrawler-related item for sale.<\/p>\n Jackson, an artist, said the festival has a strict policy prohibiting work created with the aid of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to create a space where we can celebrate our local artists who are making work with their own hands and hearts, not with a machine that was built off of the stolen labor, work, and ideas of artists all around the world,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n Vendors at the inaugural Fresno Nightcrawler Fest include:<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HDOFRESNO_NIGHTCRAWLER01.jpeg\" "\\"HDOFRESNO_NIGHTCRAWLER01\\"")
A screengrab from surveillance video shot years ago of a Fresno Nightcrawler in Fresno. HDO What is the Fresno Nightcrawler?<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HDO_NIGHTCRAWLER.jpg\" "\\"HDO_NIGHTCRAWLER.jpg\\"")
An image of the Fresno Nightcrawler provided by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Special to The Bee Build-A-Bear Workshop <\/p>\n A Fresno Nightcrawler toy is placed in front of Sour Milk in Fresno. Courtesy of Shirley Jackson gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com When is Fresno Nightcrawler Fest in 2026? Where?<\/p>\n
Shirely Jackson, the main organizer of Fresno Nightcrawlers Fest, poses for a picture. Courtesy of Shirley Jackson gagandeep.singh@fresnobee.com Which vendors will be selling merchandise?<\/p>\n