I’m done. 2020, you win. “Uncle!” I never thought I’d see a fight over a Bigfoot festival, but in this upside down, inside out world we’re living in, there truly is no telling what might happen next.
The Article
Manchester Newspapers reported about an upstart Bigfoot fest that was recently proposed by a man named Paul Thompson. He had announced that he’s looking to hold the Whitehall Bigfoot Festival either on his property or in Skenesborough Park in Whitehall, New York.
This news surprised me, because, even though I’m behind on updating the Paracons & Horror Fests listings, I know most bigger events for the remainder of 2020 are either still on hold or have postponed or canceled until 2021. Any new paracon announcements have been for virtual ones.
The Whitehall Bigfoot Festival would attempt to replace the annual Sasquatch Calling Festival, which would’ve been held in Skenesborough Park on Saturday, September 26, 2020. That event is organized by Barbara Spoor, who canceled it this year after talking with committee members and being unable to confirm from the governor’s office if an event that size would even be legally permitted.
The Controversy
Spoor’s action seemed reasonable to me, but not to Thompson. Per the article, he “touted the festival’s growing attendance over the past several years” and said, “It could be a big, big success still.”
“If you’re afraid to get sick, don’t come,” he said, “If people want to wear masks and stay six feet apart so be it,” adding that vendor booths will be six to ten feet apart but that he believes masks do more harm than good.
But Spoor still plans to hold the Sasquatch Calling Festival, and guess how? Yep. Virtually.
That’s not good enough for Thompson, who feels vendors and fest-goers should be able to decide for themselves if they want to attend.
“Vendors that want to participate in the fourth annual Sasquatch Calling Festival should be allowed to do so. Festival goers that wish to come and participate, should be allowed to do so. People who want a 100% guarantee not to get the virus, or any other cold at the festival, or for that matter, get bitten by a mosquito at the festival, should STAY HOME Barbara,” he wrote.
Well, there’s no mistaking which side of the pandemic either of them are on.
But to argue about a Bigfoot festival like this? It’s like a Tiger King dispute in the paranormal world. Except instead of tigers, Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic, we’ve got Bigfoot, Barbara Spoor and Paul Thompson. What’s next? A new Netflix series?
At this point, I won’t be surprised. Like I said, I’m done. I don’t think there’s much else than can surprise me now. (And every time I say that, the Universe accepts the challenge and finds a way to prove me wrong.)
Check-In
Have you ever watched people doing their best Sasquatch howls?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I’ve never seen people doing Sasquatch howls. It’d be fun to attend a contest.