He came. He called. He conquered. N.J. man wins Sasquatch calling contest
Pompton Lakes resident Michael O’Connor took home the top prize Saturday in the 2026 Sasquatch Calling Championship in Whitehall, New York.
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The call of the wild apparently has a New Jersey accent, and it belongs to a Pompton Lakes man who recently demonstrated his ability to get the attention of the elusive Sasquatch.
It takes a special kind of talent to attract a creature that most people have never even seen. On Saturday, Michael O’Connor cracked the code and earned bragging rights by taking home the top prize in the 2026 Sasquatch Calling Championship in Whitehall, New York.
O’Connor, originally a Sayreville native, won first place in the adult division of the annual competition, beating more than 60 other adults and 68 children who have made bellowing for Bigfoot an art form. Last year, O’Connor fell short of the championship, so he returned this year with renewed determination.
“I came back this year hoping I could win it,” O’Connor said. “After placing second last year, I felt like I had unfinished business. I never expected to come home as the champion.”
O’Connor said the contest has become a unique attraction at the Whitehall festival. It draws not only competitors, but also spectators interested in Bigfoot and the creature’s legendary folklore.
Now in its 10th year, the festival drew visitors from California, New Mexico, Colorado, Canada, France, Korea and the United Kingdom, among other locations.
