POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — The glow of the red eyes is getting more intense, which could only mean one thing: it’s time for the 2008 Mothman Festival.

This year marks the seventh annual year for the festival, scheduled for Sept. 20-21. Mothman Festival organizers are busy planning a weekend jam-packed with activities that both the young and old can enjoy.

This year’s festival will feature most of the traditional events, such as haunted hayrides and guest speakers on a variety of different Mothman or paranormal related topics. The Mothman Band will be making its seventh consecutive appearance at the festival and is slated to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at the West Virginia State Farm Museum.

New activities on tap this year include the inaugural Mothman Pageant, scheduled for Sept. 18-19, as well as additional guest speakers. In addition, Ernie Brown of Kentucky, known officially as Kentucky’s TURTLEMAN, will pay a visit to the festival Saturday and Sunday.

The TURTLEMAN will present giant snapping turtle handling demonstrations. According to www.mothmanfestival.com, Brown catches and handles 40-pound snapping turtles with his bare hands.

According to Jeff Wamsley, one of the Mothman Festival organizers, this year’s event looks to be larger than past festivals.

“The numbers in attendance are expected to grow just as they did last year. We have been very lucky in the fact that word has spread literally all over the world about the festival and the attractions that we have here in Point Pleasant,” Wamsley said. “The Internet as well as major TV exposure has been a good thing for us.”

The growth of the festival itself certainly has changed. According to Wamsley, the inaugural year of the festival was held in a vacated building along Main Street. He described the festival as now attracting a regular crowd each year as well as newcomers.

“It is exciting to see the growth of the festival and to see many of these people keep returning to Point Pleasant,” Wamsley said.

Additional activities for the festival include the Mothman Costume Contest at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mothman Statue. DJ Scott’s Karaoke is set to take place Saturday and Sunday. The Mothman Powerlifting Contest also is on tap for the weekend.

The TNT Hayride is scheduled for Saturday evening at the farm museum. Activities such as live music and food will be in store for those attending the hayride tours. Tickets for the hayride will be sold at the festival information booth located at the Mothman Statue following the festival’s kickoff in the morning. Riders will board wagons in 15-minute intervals.

Festival-goers also have the opportunity to ride the downtown tram and take a guided tour of downtown Point Pleasant. Points of interest during the tour include Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, Point Pleasant River Museum, the Silver Bridge Memorial and the floodwall murals.

Aside from activities, several guest speakers are scheduled for the weekend, including Chad Lambert, comic writer; Frank Feschino, author; Rosemary Guiley, author; Susan Shepphard, author and ghost hunter; Robin Peyatt Bellamy, author; Neal Parks, ghost hunter and author; Travis Shortt, author; Prodigy Group, Dayton, Ohio ghostbusters; Thom Moore, investigator; Bob Wilkinson, film maker; and James Willis, author.

Mothman witnesses will pay a visit to the festival 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses included Linda Scarberry, one of the first to encounter the Mothman in 1966; Tom Ury, who had the first official daytime sighting in 1966; and Faye Dewitt, who saw the Mothman running beside her car in 1966.

Also set to appear at the festival are area television personalities Josh Fitzpatrick, Susan Nicholas and Doug Korstanje. Nicholas and Korstanje had cameo roles in “The Mothman Prophecies” film.

Wamsley described his hope for everyone to attend the festival and have a good time.

“We always hope that the weather will cooperate and that everyone has a safe, enjoyable visit to Point Pleasant. I can’t tell you how many e-mails and comments that I get from people who just enjoy our town,” he said. “The Mothman Festival is a great way to show off everything that we have to offer here. I hope everyone takes advantage of this growing, unique event.”

For more information, visit www.mothmanfestival.com.