Campfire stories and a Bigfoot calling contest will be featured events at Maine’s Bigfoot Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, in Eustis, as well as Sasquatch-inspired kids events and guided walks in the woods to look for signs of the elusive creature.

The two-day event, hosted by the Spillover Motel and the Spillover Inn at Stratton Brook, includes vendors and speakers and kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Eustis Community Building, 84 Main St. Peter Small, president and lead investigator of Maine Bigfoot Foundation, will give the opening remarks.

According to Small, northern Franklin County, especially in the Bigelow Mountain area, has been a very active area recently.

“There are no actual reports filed that I know of, however, there are verbal reports that eventually get to us. Our group spent a weekend in the Bigelow area this summer and witnessed activity on infrared cameras as well as sounds,” Small said.

The foundation is dedicated to finding species recognition, one step at a time, he said.

Spillover Motel owner and event organizer Lee’Ann Delcourt said, “This is a great opportunity for us to partner with Maine Bigfoot Foundation and support them in their mission to bring species recognition to Maine. It is also an amazing opportunity for our small town.”

An interactive kids session led by field investigator Kevin Warner starts at 10:15 a.m. He will explain the equipment used in Bigfoot searches and give kids the chance to learn how to cast for footprints.

At noon, everything will be moved to the Family Fun Zone in the parking lot of Stratton Plaza. Families can explore the equipment and make casts throughout the afternoon. There will be exhibits and activities to explore, and games to play.

Delcourt said one game, a quick draw camera photo contest, will show how difficult it really is to get a good photo of Bigfoot.

At 1 p.m. at the Eustis Community Building, Bigfoot expert Loren Coleman, president of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, will speak, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Maine Bigfoot Foundation co-founder Mike Vashon will speak and answer questions at 3 p.m.

The Spillover Inn, 8 Rangeley Road, will host the Bigfoot Vendor Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, attendees are welcome to share their Bigfoot encounters during a campfire story session at the inn. Cowboy songs will be sung by Charlie Bruce. Evening activities include a Bigfoot calling contest. Prizes will be awarded.

Local restaurants  will be open for lunch and dinner, and food trucks will be set up around town. Transportation between venues will be available in partnership with Sugarloaf Mountain.

The adventure continues on Sunday with walks led by Maine Bigfoot Foundation investigators. The beginner Bigfoot walk will teach the basics of how to search for signs. The advanced walk is longer and covers more in-depth Bigfoot information.

The festival is free with the exception of Sunday’s walks. The beginner walk is $10 and the advanced walk is $25. Reservations for the walks are required by messaging the Spillover Motel and Spillover Inn at Stratton Brook on its Facebook page.