It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Wait, no, what is it?
On Thursday, July 2nd, we’ll have a chance to learn more about unidentified flying objects — UFOs — at Memphis’ first-ever World UFO Day celebration. The first World UFO Day was celebrated in 2001 by UFO researcher Haktan Akdogan. Today, the event is celebrated all over the world. But why?
For many people, the possibility of alien life is fascinating. While some chalk it up to science fiction, others firmly believe that we aren’t alone. According to the event’s website, the goal of World UFO Day is “to raise awareness about the undoubted existence of UFOs and intelligent beings from outer space and to encourage governments to declassify their knowledge about sightings throughout history. Many governments, the U.S. government for instance, are believed to have gained exclusive information about UFOs through their military departments.”
The World UFO Day Festival in Memphis will take place July 2nd at Pine Hill Park (973 Alice Avenue, 38106). The location was chosen because of a sighting event that happened there in 1977. In May of that year, Captain Lamar Todd (formerly with the Memphis Police Department), his then partner, and three other officers reported a UFO that hovered directly over Pine Hill Golf Course.
The festival will include (pet and human) alien costume contests, a moon-walking contest, carnival rides, comedy acts, movie screenings, live music, and sky watching. There will also be g uest speakers who have had personal experiences with UFOs or claim to have been abducted. Speakers include Captain Lamar Todd, James Renford Powell (founder of The Institute of Applied Metaphysics), Travis Walton ( an American logger who was allegedly abducted by a UFO in 1975), and Peter Robbins (UFO researcher, author, and lecturer). For a full schedule of events, go here.
The event is free. Due to forecasted thunderstorms, event organizers have canceled the “galactic” parade and moved the festival’s start time to 9 a.m. For more information, visit worldufodaymemphis.org.
