• Patterson-Gimlin footage

Looking at all the thirsty folks on social media makes you appreciate those who avoid the spotlight. Take Bigfoot, for example. There's a quiet dignity in not posting every elk bone he gnaws on Instagram, not Facebooking every time he freaks out a camper, and just hiding stock-still behind a redwood for hours without Tweeting about it. Ironically, it just makes us all the more curious about him.

Not that he'll be attending, but his fan-base will be in full force at the Patterson-Gimlin Film 50th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. at the Veteran's Hall in Willow Creek. Rub elbows with notable bipeds like Bob Gimlin of footage fame and Finding Bigfoot cast members, while listening to music, enjoying food and drink and toasting a half-century of squinting at a squirrely maybe-Sasquatch.

If you want to believe, listen to some Bigfoot bigwigs at the Patterson-Gimlin Film 50th Anniversary Conference on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 1 to 10 p.m. at the Sequoia Conference Center ($50). Cryptozoology heavyweights will be in attendance, including speakers like Bob Gimlin, himself, author and anthropologist Jeff Meldrum, biologist John Mionczynski and Bigfoot hunters Kathy and Bob Strain.