Alien encounters and more at the Roswell UFO Festival

You don’t have to go out of this world or even leave the state to experience extraterrestrial events.

All you need to do is go down to Roswell to experience the three day long UFO Festival, inspired by the infamous 1947 Roswell Incident.

“There will be all kinds of incredible alien fun,” said Barbara Gomez, executive director of MainStreet Roswell and co-coordinator of the UFO Festival. This is the fourth year that MainStreet Roswell has organized and run the event.

Organization of the event begins months in advance to make sure there is no crossover for any of the events or vendors. It is a large collaborative effort to come up with a schedule that works best for everyone.

“It takes a lot of meetings and a lot of people who want to work together for a good cause,” Gomez said.

The three-day festival will fill the streets of Roswell with a variety of activities from Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 7. More than seven blocks will be closed in preparation for roughly 90 different vendors. Some vendors will serve food and sell accessories, while others will offer otherworldly items like alien memorabilia.

“We have tropical drinks, burritos, roasted corn and mini donuts,” Gomez said. “You name it, we have it. You’ll have a hard time figuring out what to eat because it’s all so good.”

On Friday, July 5, attendees can visit the International UFO Museum and Research Center, where UFOlogists (people who study the extraterrestrial), will host live podcast discussions about the unknown.

Visitors can also try out virtual reality Spaceport Roswell journeys to live out their space bound dreams. Guests who enjoy performances can check out live music on the main stage or sit and relax while watching a laser show.

One of the newest additions to the festival is a UFO basketball tournament.

Visitors of all ages can dance the night away in a bubble filled space during the foam dance party from 4 to 5 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.

Also, on Saturday, attendees can participate in a 5-mile run called the Alien Chase, where participants can be seen sporting their best alien attire. UFO tours will be hosted throughout the event for those who want a more guided Roswell experience.

Saturday is also the day of the UFO parade, where participants decorate their cars with lights and extraterrestrial decorations. The event is free to join and cash prizes are offered to the best vehicles. Gomez said the parade is one of the most popular events during the three-day festival.

“Downtown is ridiculously fun, especially during the parade,” Gomez said. “People get really immersed in the event.”

Juliana Halvorson, co-organizer of the event and former president of MainStreet Roswell, said the events are family-friendly and there is something for all ages to enjoy.

“Some are really serious about it and truly believe in aliens and want to learn,” she said of eventgoers. “Others just want to come and enjoy a family-friendly event that has a lot of free activities.”

Halvorson herself is not a believer, but feels like the fun lies in everyone’s excitement around the event. Her favorite activity is seeing the people and pet costumes.

“People really put on a show with their costumes and they get really excited to show them off,” Halvorson said. “With the pet costumes, people dress up their animals. We’ve seen dogs, lizards, horses and chickens all dressed up.”

There is no cost to attend the event, but some activities will have a charge. Pets are welcome as long as they are leashed and behaved.

“It’s a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else,” Halvorson said. “It’s great for both Roswell and New Mexico. When visitors come, they end up wanting to see more of New Mexico.”