PNW Wilds Festival Celebrates Outdoor Adventures and Bigfoot Lore

Annual event in Chehalis, Washington offers something for rockhounds, foragers, beachcombers, and Sasquatch enthusiasts.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The second annual PNW Wilds festival in Chehalis, Washington is set to take place on March 7, 2026, offering a variety of activities and speakers for outdoor enthusiasts and Bigfoot hunters alike. The free general admission event will feature local vendors, authors, and artists, as well as a Bigfoot Beer Garden. Featured speakers include outdoor writer Craig Romano, rockhound Alison Jean Cole, paranormal investigator Tyler Bounds, and experts on the Ape Canyon Bigfoot incident.

Why it matters

The PNW Wilds festival celebrates the rich natural and paranormal history of the Pacific Northwest region, drawing in a diverse crowd of outdoor adventurers, rock collectors, and Bigfoot believers. The event highlights the area's unique geology, wildlife, and folklore, providing a platform for experts to share their knowledge and passion with the community.

The details

The PNW Wilds festival will take place at The Loft in downtown Chehalis, Washington on March 7, 2026. In addition to the featured speakers, the event will also have local vendors, authors, and artists, as well as a Bigfoot Beer and Beverage Garden. VIP packages are available for $50, which include a festival t-shirt, a swag bag, and a beverage token.

  • The PNW Wilds festival will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • The event will run from 10 a.m. to an unspecified closing time.

The players

Craig Romano

An outdoors photographer and writer whose books include "Backpacking on Vancouver Island" and "Hiking Over 60," along with many other day hiking guides for areas throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Alison Jean Cole

A professional rockhound who runs a Portland-based backpacking business taking others on guided rock collecting trips in Oregon and Nevada, and who also founded the Green River Rocks festival in Utah.

Tyler Bounds

A paranormal investigator who has been interviewed by National Geographic, the BBC and Huffington Post about his Bigfoot research, and is a self-described "Cascadian dirtbag treehugging punk nerd with a Bigfoot festish."

Marc Myrsell

A land surveyor and paranormal investigator known for his in-depth research and analysis of the the Ape Canyon incident in 1924, where five prospectors reported being accosted throughout the night by seven-foot-tall ape-like creatures who threw rocks at their cabin and banged on the walls.

Shane Corson

A paranormal investigator and member of the Olympia Project, Project Zoobook and co-host of Monster X Radio.

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What’s next

VIP tickets to PNW Wilds can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/5xza82uj, or at Nature Nurture Farmacy, located at 403 N. Market Blvd., unit 1, in downtown Chehalis.

The takeaway

The PNW Wilds festival celebrates the diverse natural wonders and paranormal lore of the Pacific Northwest, providing a unique platform for outdoor enthusiasts, rock collectors, and Bigfoot believers to come together and share their passions with the community.