Frogman Festival Returns to Loveland with Speakers, Films and Local Folklore

By. Mike Meldon

LOVELAND, Ohio — What began as curiosity about a strange Ohio cryptid has grown into one of the region’s most unique community gatherings. The Frogman Festival, founded by local cartographer Jeff Craig, returns March 7, 2026, bringing together folklore enthusiasts, artists, filmmakers and families to celebrate the enduring legend of the Loveland Frogman and other regional mysteries.

Craig, who spent more than 15 years traveling to events selling his paranormal-themed maps, including the Hidden Ohio Map & Guide (I have one hanging in my classroom!) and Map in Black, launched the first Frogman Festival in 2023. That inaugural one‑day event in Mason drew nearly 2,000 visitors, featured eight speakers, and more than 50 vendors. Since then, the festival has grown into an annual tradition rooted in curiosity, community and creativity.

"The Frogman Festival is an annual event rooted in the Loveland Frogman legend, bringing together regional folklore, local art and a wide range of community voices," Craig said. "Part educational gathering and part countercultural meetup, the festival shows how people continue to reshape folklore. It is not just a mystery to solve, but an evolving story tied to a place, its history and our imagination."

This year’s festival takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oasis Conference Center on Loveland‑Miamiville Road. Organizers expect more than a thousand attendees for a day of speakers, vendors and activities for all ages. Authors and storytellers from across the region will present research and tales of strange encounters, while artists and creators will fill the ballroom — known as “The Terrarium” — with handmade art, merchandise and collectibles.

The festival is designed to be welcoming and inclusive, Craig said, emphasizing tolerance and accessibility for all participants and visitors. Kids 12 and under are admitted free.

Beyond Saturday’s main event, the festival weekend includes additional programs. On Friday evening at 6 p.m., a new documentary about the Frogman will be screened at The Oasis, with Columbus filmmaker Scott Spears introducing his micro‑budget project.

On Sunday morning at 11 a.m., RJ Cinema in Eastgate will host a double‑feature of the found‑footage horror film Frogman (2023) and its sequel Frogman Returns (2025), with writer and director Anthony Cousins appearing alongside cast and crew.

For founder Jeff Craig, the Frogman Festival is less about proving the legend than celebrating the community that surrounds it. Over a thousand people gather each year to learn, laugh and embrace the weird side of Ohio, he said, showing how folklore evolves as new voices add their own perspectives.

Tickets are required for all three festival events and are available online at frogmanfestival.org. Whether you are a longtime cryptid enthusiast or simply curious about Loveland’s most famous legend, organizers say the Frogman Festival promises a weekend of stories, imagination and local pride.