The Devil’s Footprint

285th Anniversary Folklore Festival

Sunday, September 28, 2025

10:00 a.m. Worship – The Devil on the Steeple
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Town Festival – Music, panel, theater, history on Meetinghouse Green
Location: Northwest side of Meetinghouse Green, Ipswich, Massachusetts
Rain location: First Church in Ipswich, UCC
Free and open to the public

Why this event

For 285 years Ipswich has carried the story of the Devil’s Footprint, a mark in the granite that stirs questions of history, myth, and meaning. This anniversary folklore festival is not about honoring George Whitefield or the Devil. It is about exploring how a single story has lived on in our town, passed from one generation to the next.

The event gathers neighbors, scholars, authors, and musicians to look at the legend from many angles: as a local curiosity, as part of a broader tradition of folklore, and as a way to reflect on how fables and parables continue to shape our understanding of evil, social justice, and the sins of the past that still echo into the present.

Schedule

11:00 a.m. – Live music by Clay Pigeons
12:00 p.m. – Devil’s Lore panel discussion
1:00 p.m. – Historical sermon reenactment
1:30 p.m. – Dramatic performance of The Battle
2:00 p.m. – Live music by Clay Pigeons
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Lunch available for purchase

About the legend

On Tuesday, September 30, 1740, George Whitefield preached in Ipswich with such fire that the Devil himself was said to have been driven from the North Congregational Church. Some versions tell of a mirror shattering. Others describe a fight up the steeple until the Devil was cast down, leaving a scorched hoofprint in the granite.

Some say it is nothing more than a volcanic divot. Others insist it marks the place where evil met its match.

The rock is still there. The story is still told. And every generation adds its own voice.

Today the Devil’s Footprint is more than lore. It is a reminder that old stories can open new conversations about what we fear, what we resist, and what we still need to confront as a community.

What to bring

A chair or a blanket
Curiosity and a sense of wonder
Friends and family to share in the town gathering

Cost and donations

Admission is free
A QR code for donations will be available at the event
All contributions support historical and arts programming at First Church in Ipswich, UCC

Who is involved

Artists, musicians, preachers, scholars, skeptics, and local interpreters will join with special guests from historical, theological, and artistic communities. Together they will examine truth, myth, memory, and meaning in one of Ipswich’s strangest tales.

Presented by

First Church in Ipswich, UCC & Friends

Thanks

Thank You to Anna Hirata of PhotophorestudioWe are grateful to Anna and Nobuteru Hirata of @photophorestudio for generously donating their time and talent to capture this event. Their gift of photography helps preserve and share our community’s story.

Thank You to Clay Pigeons
We are delighted to welcome Clay Pigeons, a roots ensemble whose music blends the soul of New England with the timeless traditions of folk, bluegrass, ragtime, and Americana. Though a new band, its members are longtime fixtures of the regional music scene: Conor Hennessy (Vocals, Guitar), Paul Simion (Fiddle, Accordion, Vocals), Luke Hanlin (Mandolin, Vocals), Ryan Fess (Guitar, Vocals), James Cappelletti (Banjo, Vocals), and Joe Cappelletti (Bass Fiddle, Vocals).

Clay Pigeons are known for their vibrant songwriting, tight harmonies, and rollicking style that carries a distinct saltiness from the shores of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Their songs tell authentic and irreverent stories of the people and places that shape our coastal communities, inviting audiences to sing along, dance, and celebrate together.

We are grateful to Clay Pigeons for sharing their music at this event and helping us bring history and folklore to life in a joyful, unforgettable way. Learn more at https://claypigeonstrings.com/