The story dates back to a stormy night in the 1800s, festival organizer Chloe Loflin said.
The legend goes: As a family of settlers rolled along the banks of Brushy Creek, a young boy fell out of the stagecoach. His absence went unnoticed by his family because of the storm, leaving the boy to survive in the woods by himself. He became a recluse with long hair covering his entire body, she said.
The Hairy Man became protective of the woods, scaring away any passengers who came too close. Loflin said his spirit still lives along Hairy Man Road, where people say they have encounters with a shadowy, hairy figure lurking in the trees.
In 1994, the community started the Hairy Man Festival to celebrate the "unique, eerie legend,” Loflin said.
The celebration
The festival is hosted at Cat Hollow Park and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to bring two nonperishable food items to donate to the Round Rock Serving Center, or $2 per person.
Activities kick off with the Hairy Man 5K run. Beginning at noon, there are train rides, craft vendors, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting and a barbecue sauce contest.
The festival includes a variety of family-friendly activities. Courtesy Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
At 2 p.m., the children’s costume contest commences, with different categories according to age as well as a family costume category.
As the festival wraps up, there is a reading of the Hairy Man legend before the grand finale—the Hairiest Man Contest. Contestants are judged by the amount and thickness of the hair on their heads and bodies, competing for the coveted title and a $500 cash prize, Loflin said.
Hairiest Man competitors are judged for the amount and thickness of hair on their heads and bodies.Courtesy Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
More details
While this is only Loflin's second year running the festival, she said she’s been a regular attendee since childhood. She said it’s grown every year, both in attendance and activities.
“It's beloved by the members of our community, by our board of directors, by our staff,” Loflin said.
While celebrating the local legend with a festival is fun, Loflin said, its roots are in taking care of the close-knit community.
“These residents get their water from us and a lot of them are members of the community center. They trust us,” she said. “We do these events to give back to them, to give them something to look forward to.”
Festival organizers said the event aims to give back to the community and celebrate a local myth.Courtesy Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
One more thing
Community Impact asked Loflin if she believes in the legend of the Hairy Man.
“Absolutely! I love the fact that we celebrate this random hairy-man hermit,” she said. “I'm choosing to believe.”
