Roswell Set For Annual UFO Festival
by Frank Levine
The city-sponsored Roswell UFO Festival is about to make yet another July terrestrial landing, filled with a multitude of activities, top-notch entertainment, lectures, films, and even a couple of nationally televised broadcasts.
UFO Festival July 3-7
Although the main events begin on Thursday and extends through July 7, visitors can launch their quest for extraterrestrial life earlier, and continue throughout the week at the “Roswell Exhibit,” a museum-quality presentation of the purported UFO landing 61-years-ago that put the city on the intergalactic map.
For those that want a early jump into the activities, they should be prepared to show up at the Roswell Convention and Visitors Center on Main Street, in their finest outer space regalia, filled with coffee and joy, at 4:45 a.m., to be part of the ”CBS Early Show” set to be broadcast from 5 to 7 a.m.
Parking will be allowed at the CV center and people are invited to dress appropriately - in other words, in their finest Flash Gordon space suit, alien antenna hat, flying saucer dress, or whatever in the cosmos you like, as long as it represents the Roswell “experience” and New Mexico.
The first challenge in UFO identification, however, will be to find where the CBS Winnebago is parked.
During the broadcast, a costume contest will be held in honor of the festival, so CBS will welcome just about anything out of this world.
Meanwhile, the official Roswell UFO Festival will begin at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony, with a day full of activities beginning at 10 a.m., featuring Robert H. Goddard Planetarium shows for both children and adults.
A Jerry Pippin live broadcast is also planned for the afternoon, between 2 and 5 p.m., at the CV center.
The first day winds up with a street dance featuring the “Kountry Heirs,” in the CV center parking lot.
On Friday morning, if you’ve survived your earlier re-entry into the Roswell atmosphere, another coffee jolt needed to make the planned 4 to 7 a.m., Daily Buzz Live Broadcast. (With a 3 a.m. satellite feed).
Highlighting the day will be the “Alien Village” at DeBremond Stadium, a day-long CE4 Speakers Conference at the New Mexico Military Institute’s Pearson Auditorium located on the 1600 block of N. Main St. The CE4 group is an alien abduction research group based in Florida. There will also be two showings, at 1 and 4 p.m., of the original play, ”Alien Hunters of the ET Cafe,” at the Roswell Community Theater, 1101 N. Virginia Ave.
Friday night will erupt in a flurry of activity, including a “Fireworks Extravaganza” at the Cielo Grande Park, with the Chicago Honey Bears Dancers. Later, at the park, there will be a showing of ”Roswell, the Movie”, with co-writer/producer Paul Davids.
“This year will be truly a family affair,” said Roswell City Marketing Director Renee Roach. “There are activities and fun for everybody.”
Saturday launches with a 7 a.m. “Alien Chase,” with registration set for 6 a.m. Numerous activities are planned throughout the day, including mud volley ball, and three against three soccer tournaments.
Don’t forget, if you’ve have an animal space companion, registration for the “Alien Animal Costume Contest” ends at 9 a.m., with the event being held at the Roswell Museum and Art Center.
Sunday highlights, meanwhile, include another day-long CE4 Conference and panel discussion at Pearson Auditorium. There will be more mud volleyball and soccer at Cielo Grande Park.
Monday’s 7 p.m. Peter Robbins book discussion and signing will end the events at the Roswell Public Library.
Roswell UFO Festival 2008 website
http://www.roswell-record.com/
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