The Festival of the Big Red Eye
Event seeks to inform the world about a bigfoot creature in northern New Jersey Sussex Fireman Dan’s Sports Bar on Route 23 in Sussex will host its first Festival of the Big Red Eye on Saturday, July 9. Organizers said the outdoor event “is designed to entertain and inform the world of a Bigfoot type creature that has been known to roam the hills of northern New Jersey.” The day will be celebrated with music, food, vendors, speakers, and guests. A documentary film crew, working on an upcoming release, will be on site and Weird NJ will lend a hairy hand. In the mid 1970s, sightings of “a hairy cryptoid, with red eyes,” rippled through the county. The New Jersey Herald published stories complete with eye witness accounts. Years later, Weird NJ magazine latched on to the Big Red Eye saga and the idea of a festival was born. The featured musical performers will be Big Boss Sausage, Mike Lawlor Banned, Pacifists of Fury, Natural Breakdown, The Dirty Stay Outs, The Brimstones, The Swales, Hog Maw, Joe Serin, Radio Pirates, and The Purple Avenger. Organizers added the various styles and diversity of the bands “will offer a wide palate for all participants” in this family friendly show. Fireman Dan’s features upper deck seating and a full service bar, complete with a cedar log trellis for shade and shelter. There is lawn space for blankets and chairs. Rob Moorhead, the DJ on 103.7 FM will be the host and Mark and Mark from Weird NJ will assist. The festival will be part of a cinematic release from 144 Films. Directing the movie will be the award winning film maker Curt Babcock. Other events include the “unintentional” Big Red Eye look alike contest, king and queen of the festival, and monster mating call competition. In addition, anyone with a story is welcome to contribute. Gates will open at 1 p.m. and the show will go until 9:45 p.m. At 10:30, the show will continue inside the bar for people 21 and over. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.bigbosssausage.com. Call 973-875-9428 to learn more.