Friday 19 June 2015

Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department UFO Festival to mark 50th anniversary of UFO incident


By  Marcus Schneck

Kecksburg, a tiny village 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of a UFO incident there with the 10th annual Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Departtment UFO Festival Friday through Sunday, July 24-26.

The festival, some of which is unrelated to UFOs and could be transplanted to any small community in Pennsylvania, nevertheless has been named one of the top 40 festivals in the region by Pittsburgh Magazine.

Friday evening will see the fire company social hall, where the UFO Store is maintained in a small room off the bar room, will see exhibits by UFO and Bigfoot investigators mixed with a craft, woodworking and jewelry show. Outside the social hall will be additional food vendors, exhibitors and carnival games.

Among the UFO-centric events will be a parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. Participants are invited to enter with the best UFO costumes or UFO floats.

A UFO hot dog eating contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, followed at 1:30 p.m. by a mini-paranormal conference featuring UFO and Bigfoot investigators from southwestern Pennsylvania.

Non-UFO events will include a bed race at 4 p.m. Saturday, the annual "Smoke in the Valley" burn-out competition at 6 p.m. Saturday, fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday, a hay bale toss at 2 p.m. Sunday, and a kids' Pedal Power Tractor Pull at 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information call 724-423-9540 or visit the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department website.