First-ever Carbondalien Festival marks 50th anniversary of UFO sighting with alien activity on Nov. 9
From a press release:
In 1974, a UFO reportedly fell from the sky into a silt pond in Carbondale. While several explanations have been offered, including a lantern that sunk under the water, the mystery of this sighting has become a key part of the city’s culture.
Now, 50 years later, an extraterrestrial festival will commemorate the unique unidentified past of this old coal mining town, celebrate local UFO culture, and pay tribute to the curious happenings of Nov. 9, 1974.
The Carbondale Arts Alliance will host the inaugural Carbondalien Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Carbondale.
The event will include out of this world vendors in partnership with Wyoming Valley Ghost Tours, local
food and spirits, live music, art, photo opportunties with costumed characters like Bigfoot and Star Wars Stormtroopers by Garrison Carida, supernatural guest speakers, tethered alien hot air balloon rides, and an immersive theatrical “Russell Park Experience” at the alleged 1974 crash site! An afterparty is also planned featuring guest speaker Heather Taddy of A&E’s “Paranormal State” and the Travel Channel’s “Alien Highway.”
The Arts Alliance officially kicked things off on Oct. 9 when an alien scavenger hunt went live at carbondalienfestival.com to engage the public in a countywide search for large alien cutouts created by artist JFO and displayed at local businesses. Partnerships for the project include many Lackawanna County businesses and organizations who are also planning special ways to promote the festival.
- On Thursday, Oct. 17, the Circle Drive-In (1911 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City) will offer a special screening of “Spaceballs,” the classic 1987 “Star Wars” parody film.
- The Iron Horse Society will offer an “Extraterrestrial Express” train excursion on the morning of the festival, departing the Steamtown National Historic Site (350 Cliff St., Scranton) at 10:45 a.m.
- The Greater Carbondale YMCA (82 N. Main St., Carbondale) will offer an alien-themed open swim from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. during the festival.
- Carbondale Public Library (5 N. Main St., Carbondale) has planned several programs to complement the festival, including an alien teen bingo slated for Tuesday, Oct. 29 and an alien story time and craft activity and an extraterrestrial film festival of classic sci-fi favorites, both on the day of the festival.
- Also on the day of the festival, the Hotel Anthracite (25 S. Main St., Carbondale) will host a supernatural speakers series from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., offering a variety of themed presenters and leading experts on UFOs, bigfoot, and other paranormal topics. Speakers will include James Krug on “Invasion of the Body Snatchers & How to Become a MUFON Investigator,” Bill Weber on “UFO Sightings and Cover-Ups,” Tim Renner on “The 1920s Bigfoot Flap in Pennsylvania,” and Alan B. Smith on “Exposing UFO Debunkers.”
The Carbondalien Festival concludes on Nov. 9 with an afterparty at the Hotel Anthracite from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. with Pennsylvania native Heather Taddy presenting “World of the Weird.” Taddy, best known for the television series “Paranormal State” and for her work to explore the history of UFOs on “Alien Highway,” will share her origin story and discuss how she first became interested in paranormal phenomena.
