If you've been too distracted by the recent flooding that's been taking place in New York and haven't had a chance to dive into all of the other news, then you may have missed out on reading about how this week there was yet another Bigfoot sighting up in the town of Whitehall. Known for being the Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World, this small town tucked between Lake George and the Vermont border has a long history when it comes to spotting 7-foot-tall creatures.

Up in Washington County, the small town of Whitehall is a favorite place for our residents to visit when they're looking to get away from it all.

In this area of New York, you're usually only known to experience peace and quiet while you're surrounded by some of the most secluded areas of our state. Perhaps this is why Bigfoot feels so comfortable calling this place home?

What may seem like your ordinary small town is quite far from it, Whitehall actually has a long history of Bigfoot sightings that date all the way back to the 1960s and beyond.

Some say that the history of Bigfoot in this region of New York dates as far back as the mid-1600s, while others only know of stories that have surfaced over the last 50-years. Are you familiar with how Whitehall earned the title of being the Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World?

Over the years, locals, visitors, and even police officers of the town of Whitehall have reported seeing a 7 to 8-foot tall creature that they simply have no explanation for.

That's right! While many stories have been told over the ages, one of the most well-known and credible sightings took place back in the summer of 1976. Whitehall police officer Bryan Gosselin reported seeing an enormous creature that he was unable to identify, and one of the wildest parts of this story is that Gosselin wasn't alone when this happened. Gosselin was joined by his father, brother, and several other friends when the group of men claimed to have seen a 7 or 8-foot tall creature that let out an unusual scream and had piercing red eyes.

With sightings taking place as recently as August 7th, 2018, continuing to draw in more curious people to the town who are looking to witness the strange phenomenon for themselves.

Over the years, even other police officers of Whitehall have come forward to report Bigfoot sightings, while other people have chosen to remain anonymous for fear of being ridiculed by their neighbors and local residents. This is also what happened this week when an unnamed man claimed he saw Bigfoot climbing over the guardrail on Route 4 in town - a stretch of road that happens to be where many people have spotted the tall creature. While the man has remained anonymous, he did choose to report the sighting to local Bigfoot investigator and author Paul Bartholomew who later went back and took impressions of the 12-inch long and 5-inch wide footprints he found out along Route 4.

Celebrating that town's reputation, on September 29th this year Whitehall will host its annual Sasquatch Calling Contest and Festival.

A festival that began back in 2016, local residents have had a ball putting together this unique festival in town for Bigfoot enthusiasts.

The annual festival comes just a couple of months after Whitehall made Bigfoot the town's official animal - yes, you read that right.

Back at the beginning of July, it became official that Whitehall's town animal was decided on as Bigfoot - and they're completely serious. How many other towns can say that that's their official animal? Talk about wild!

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Busty's Brews & BBQ Pit in Whitehall, guests of the festival can spend the day hanging out by the water and embracing their inner sasquatch.

The festival is only a small piece of the town's embrace of being known as the Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World. Each year the town also hosts its own Sasquatch Half Marathon and even has its own charming restaurant along the water named the Sasquatch Saloon!

So if you've ever been curious about the tales surrounding Bigfoot or are in need of an excuse to check out this quirky town for yourself, then mark your calendars and plan on visiting Whitehall on September 29th for their famous festival.

In past years, the Sasquatch Calling Contest and Festival has featured live music, screenings of Bigfoot-themed documentaries, activities for kids, bounce houses, food vendors, and of course - the Sasquatch Calling Contest.

To find out more about Whitehall's Sasquatch Calling Contest and Festival, click here.

Did you hear about this week's Bigfoot sighting or know that Whitehall was the Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World? To explore more whimsical places around the state, read about how This Secret Garden Hike In New York Will Make You Feel Like You're In A Fairy Tale!