WHITEHALL, N.Y. | The Sasquatch Festival is returning to Whitehall on Saturday, September 26, bringing a full day of Bigfoot folklore, live entertainment, local vendors and one of the area’s most unusual traditions: the annual Sasquatch Calling Contest.
The 10th annual festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park and Skenesborough Park. Organizers describe the event as free and family friendly, with presentations, researchers, food trucks, vendors and live music planned throughout the day.
Bigfoot Tradition Runs Deep in Whitehall
Sasquatch folklore has become closely connected with Whitehall and the surrounding Washington County area.
Local stories about mysterious, humanlike creatures in the region have been circulating for decades. The town’s connection to the legend has become such a recognizable part of its identity that Whitehall has been associated with the nickname “Bigfoot Sanctuary.” The William G. Pomeroy Foundation notes that the town’s annual festival draws thousands of visitors interested in the local folklore tradition.
The festival gives believers, skeptics and curious visitors a chance to explore the legend together without taking the folklore too seriously.
Researchers and Speakers Take the Stage
One of the main attractions will be presentations from Sasquatch researchers and speakers.
According to local event coverage, this year’s festival will feature discussions covering Sasquatch research and reported sightings from the region. The event also includes vendors and displays connected to the broader Bigfoot community.
For visitors who have followed Bigfoot stories online or through television documentaries, the festival offers a chance to hear directly from people who spend time researching the legend.
The Sasquatch Calling Contest Steals the Spotlight
The most distinctive part of the festival comes later in the day with the Sasquatch Calling Contest.
Contestants gather to imitate the sounds traditionally associated with Bigfoot, making the competition one of the festival’s signature traditions. The contest has become a recurring finale for the Whitehall event and has attracted both children and adults in previous years.
This year’s festival is scheduled to run until 6 p.m., giving visitors plenty of time to explore the parks before the day’s Sasquatch-themed activities wrap up.
A Quirky Local Tradition Continues
While Bigfoot remains unconfirmed, Whitehall has turned the mystery surrounding the legendary creature into a distinctive community tradition.
The annual festival combines local folklore, entertainment and small-town community activities in a way that has helped make the event stand out on the Upstate New York calendar.
For visitors arriving in Whitehall on September 26, the question is not necessarily whether Bigfoot will appear. The bigger question may be who can make the most convincing Sasquatch call.