A‑State’s 31st Delta Symposium Explores ‘Monsters, Cryptids and the Monstrous’ April 8–11

By the Arkansas Delta Informer Staff

JONESBORO, Ark. – April 2, 2026 – Arkansas State University will host the 31st annual Delta Symposium April 8–11, bringing scholars, writers, artists and community members together around this year’s theme: “Monsters, Cryptids, and the Monstrous.”

The four‑day event, coordinated by A‑State’s Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages, opens Wednesday at the Carl R. Reng Student Union with a multidisciplinary forum on monsters and folklore. Sessions throughout the week will highlight Delta history, culture, storytelling, and regional research.

Acclaimed author and scholar Christopher Teuton will headline the symposium with a Thursday evening reading at the Bradbury Art Museum and a Friday keynote titled “Naming the Impossible: The Wondrous and the Monstrous in Cherokee Storytelling.”

This year’s theme allows presentations on a wide range of subjects. A special component of the symposium is a workshop titled “Oral History, Folklife and Heritage Sites” that will be offered at 1 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday. These sessions feature consultant Ian Hallagan and are designed to provide resources for those engaged in cultural programs in museums, libraries, historical societies and other organizations.

“This year’s event stemmed from a wide interest in monsters and cryptids,” Dr. Gregory Hansen, Delta Symposium co-coordinator, explained. He noted that the topic has wide appeal and is evident in the popularity of movies such as “Sinners” as well as a range of media.

Leslie Reed, who also coordinates the symposium, added, “Monsters have always been part of our history and culture — appearing in many forms, from those who search the woods for Bigfoot to the more metaphorical monsters we face in our everyday lives. By examining them, we gain a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be human.”

All on‑campus events are free and open to the public. The full schedule is available at Ahttps://www.astate.edu/outreach/history-and-heritage/delta-symposium/schedule-of-events.htmlState.edu/delta-symposium.

The symposium concludes Saturday, April 11, with the 11th Arkansas Roots Music Festival at the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess. Hosted by singer‑songwriter Erin Enderlin, this year’s festival honors the musical legacy of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and features performances by Mae Estes, Reverend Greg Spradlin and the Delta Soul Singers. Tickets start at $10 for teens and are free for children 12 and under.

More details about the Arkansas Root Music Festival are online.