OCALA, Fla. \u2013 Thousands of people are expected to head to Central Florida next month for an event focused heavily on Florida\u2019s very own legendary \u201cSkunk Ape.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to the organizers behind the Great Florida Bigfoot Conference<\/a>, which is scheduled for June 13 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. <\/p>\n This year marks the sixth annual rendition of the event, which organizers say will feature all of the following:<\/p>\n Live Bigfoot Town Hall discussions<\/p>\n Interactive exhibits and displays<\/p>\n Bigfoot-themed photo opportunities<\/p>\n \u201cSkunk Ape Row\u201d featuring vendors, artists and researchers<\/p>\n Family-friendly attractions and activities<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen tremendous growth in interest surrounding Bigfoot and unexplained phenomena over the last few years,\u201d said Nikki Beaty of Gather Up Events. \u201cPeople are traveling from all over the country to hear encounter stories, meet researchers they\u2019ve watched on television, and experience Florida\u2019s unique Skunk Ape<\/a> culture.\u201d<\/p>\n AI depiction of a Skunk Ape, as provided in Vivint’s “United Scares of America” (Photo Credit: Vivint) (Vivint)<\/p>\n Per the event page, the conference will also host a roundtable regarding the Skunk Ape, which is the Sunshine State\u2019s equivalent of the fabled Bigfoot or Sasquatch.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a formal lecture,\u201d the event page reads<\/a>. \u201cIt is a \u2018boots-on-the-ground\u2019 update designed to give our attendees a firsthand look at what local researchers have found over the past year.\u201d<\/p>\n WHAT IS THE SKUNK APE?<\/p>\n The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that reports of the beast claim it\u2019s always accompanied by a \u201cfoul smell\u201d \u2014 an odor like rotten eggs, moldy cheese or feces.<\/p>\n An FWC spokesperson told News 6 there is no direct evidence that it exists, though its origins could stem from people mistakenly identifying wild hogs or bears.<\/p>\n Despite that, many have touted its existence.<\/p>\n According to the FWC, three of the most recent reports of Skunk Ape sightings have come from the following locations:<\/p>\n July 2020: Naples, Collier County<\/p>\n January 2021: Inverness, Citrus County<\/p>\n February 2021: Seawall\u2019s Point, Martin County<\/p>\n