Iowa’s Creepiest & Most Bizarre Festival is Coming Up in September

A festival celebrating one of Iowa's most mysterious cryptids is on its way this fall! The small town of Van Meter, Iowa will host its annual Van Meter Visitor Festival on September 26th.

What is the 'Van Meter Visitor?'

According to an article from the Des Moines Register, the legend of the Van Meter Visitor originated back in the fall of 1903, when a well-respected man in the community reported seeing a "half human, half animal with enormous, smooth bat wings" perched on top of a building. After that, more sightings of the creature occurred, with locals saying that it "let off a powerful stench and scared the daylights out of them because it moved at speeds never seen before." Reports also mention that the Van Meter Visitor had a horn on its head that fired off beams of light.

Not surprisingly, folks in the town of Van Meter were terrified of this unusual creature, which they believed had come from an old coal mine. A video from Iowa PBS discusses the history of the Van Meter Visitor, reporting that members of the community had attempted to chase down and shoot the mysterious beast, but were unsuccessful.

Over 120 years later, researcher and author Chad Lewis told PBS that the Van Meter Visitor's lore is alive and well. There have continued to be sightings of the creature in recent years, with some saying it resembles a dragon, and others comparing it to a giant bat or bird.

So, does the Van Meter Visitor actually exist? Is it just some sort of misidentified animal? An undiscovered species? A figment of a wild imagination? A hoax that's been perpetuated for decades? A silly legend used to draw attention to the town? We may never know for sure.

READ MORE: Monster Sightings - What Supernatural Creatures Lurk in Iowa?

When is the Van Meter Visitor Festival?

Whatever you believe about the Van Meter Visitor, you're invited to learn more about the legendary cryptid at the 2026 Van Meter Visitor Festival! I was recently reminded of the event by my favorite true crime podcast, 'My Favorite Murder.' Back in April, the show put out episode 528, titled "In a Business Way," and in the episode, host Karen Kilgariff dives into the lore of the Van Meter Visitor and the town's annual celebration.

The Van Meter Visitor Festival is coming up on Saturday, September 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street in Van Meter. It features local vendors, food & beverages, paranormal presentations, and more. VIP tickets have already sold out, but general admission tickets are still on sale for $10. You can purchase them online HERE.

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READ MORE: A Massive List of September 2026 Events Across Eastern Iowa