Coaster Photo
Participants in the Jersey Devil Festival over the weekend in Asbury Park roamed around Cookman Avenue.
By ERIC MEIER
if you were walking around Cookman or Mattison Avenues in Asbury Park over the weekend you may have noticed crypids and other monsters roaming around.
It was the sixth annual Jersey Devil Festival in Asbury Park and just behind the Paranormal Museum the street was closed off and lined with many historical and spooky vendors, story tellers local artists selling their art work.
The organizer of the event and owner of the Paranormal Museum, Kathy Kelly, said “We wished to dedicate the annual festival to the United State’s oldest monster, The Jersey Devil, which was first said to have existed as far back as 1735 by none other than Benjamin Franklin.”
The story goes that Ben Franklin began a famous feud with Daniel Leeds in the 1700s. Ben Franklin’s almanac (Poor Richard’s Almanac) published in Pennsylvania competed with Daniel Leeds’ almanac (the American Almanack) published in New Jersey. Not only were their almanac’s in competition with one another, but also Ben Franklin favored the patriot cause whereas Daniel Leeds’ favored the loyalist one. Since Daniel Leeds’ backed the Royal Governor in NJ, Ben Franklin started referring to the entire Leeds family, and their almanac as being ‘Devilish’ or birthed from satan.
Eventually from this Leeds family, a certain, ‘Mother Leeds’ is said to have given birth to the Jersey Devil. Although there are a good number of origin tales behind the Jersey Devil, one of the more widely accepted ones is that Mother Leeds gave birth to the Jersey Devil, and the creature continues to reside somewhere in the Pine Barrens to this very day.
Kelly said she sometimes gets a little bit of push back for holding the festival in Asbury Park rather than having it held in or around the Pine Barrens.
“Although the festival is not held closer to the place where thefable is set, most people tell me that they’re perfectly fine with its current location in this central part of the state,” she said.
Kelly said she has always been interested in the supernatural.
“Growing up Essex County, I always had an interest in fables and the supernatural,” she said. “I’ve always been especially fascinated by the folklore that originates right here in New Jersey. We have 12 well known cryptids here in the state, not just the Jersey Devil. Also, no matter what part of NJ you’re from, there are tons of legends and folklore about the supernatural, in every part of the state. It is what makes us all unique and brings us together as New Jerseyians no matter what part of the state you’re from”.
As to the Jersey Devil Film Festival, Kathy explained, “Our first Jersey Devil Festival was held in 2018 and the following year we started holding afilm festival to accompany it. This year we had more than 150 film entries. From that large number of submissions we decided to select 50 to be showcased throughout the festival. These unique and experimental films were submitted to us from eleven different countries. Our festival and worldwide acclaim continue to grow each year.”
Filmmaker Dane Betram, who grew up in Sydney (Australia), and moved to the United States in 2014 said that he first started making films when he was just eight years old. His film, “The Shaver Mystery,” was showcased at this year’s Jersey Devil Film Festival.
While walking throughout the festival during the course of the day people were greeted by different monsters and cryptids dressed as spooky characters. Many were seen taking photos, conversing with one another, scaring one another, and promoting each other’s outfits. Rebecca Gruber, who leads the ghost tours and has worked with Kathy Kelly for over four years said, “We are glad to celebrate niche aspects of New Jersey. Through this festival we’ve sought to appreciate and honor the state’s history through unique lenses. I’ve always been a spooky person and I love to see myself as part of this community”.