In Roswell, New Mexico, the claimed UFO capital of the world, there is an annual UFO festival each July. Enthusiasts from across the country and globe gather together with parades, talks, movies, and contests centered around the existence of extraterrestrial life.  

History of the festival  

2019 marks the 72nd annual UFO festival in Roswell. The geographic location is important to the celebration, because it is the site of a multitude of famous UFO sightings and crashes. One of the town’s most famous incidents happened in July 1947. What is believed to be an alien spacecraft crashed down, and both debris and alleged bodies were collected by the US military. Even now, there seem to be more questions than answers surrounding the incident. Fanatics of the event insist on a coverup of the incident from the military. Open now to the public, the International UFO Museum and Research Center houses details of the incident and more in-depth research done by scientists on the existence of alien life.  

Out of this world events  

The most popular event is the costume contest. This free event is open to people of all ages, and even animals are encouraged to participate. Costumes get crazier each year and people often perform on state as their character.  

For out of this world athletes, the festival has an annual Alien Chase Race complete with both 10k and 5k runs and walks. Attendees dress up as aliens and run or walk the course with spectators cheering them on.  

For the serious festival goer, you can enter the UFO Festival Light Parade that happens on Saturday night. Those who entered the costume contest are encouraged to hop on a float. Elaborate spaceship designs roll down the streets after their months of tedious contruction.  

Other smaller events like the car show, concerts, and talks from authors and researchers, happen throughout the days of the festival.  

You don’t have to go to another planet to get your fix of aliens, because Roswell, New Mexico’s, annual UFO festival has enough out of this world events to satisfy the believers and non-believers alike.