Whitehall’s Sasquatch Calling Contest drew more than 100 participants this year, with contestants from four countries and more than 32 U.S. states, the Times Union reported. The festival also attracted more than 5,000 attendees from around the country, according to NJ.com.
Among the competitors, 52-year-old Michael O’Connor of Pompton Lakes won the adult division at the 2026 event in Whitehall, New York. NJ.com reported that 61 adults competed and that O’Connor’s winning call lasted 23 seconds; the contest also included 68 children, according to News 12 New Jersey.
The victory followed O’Connor’s second-place finish in his first appearance the previous year, NJ.com reported. News 12 also reported that he returned to the contest after placing second.
The event has a local history beyond the competition: Whitehall adopted a resolution declaring the village a sasquatch sanctuary in 2004, the Times Union reported. Organizers have set Sept. 25, 2027, for the next Sasquatch Festival and Calling Contest, according to the same outlet.
