The 10th Annual UFO Festival at McMenamins Hotel Oregon
UFO enthusiasts are making plans to converge in Oregon wine country
All are welcome -- event tickets now on sale at www.ufofest.com
McMINNVILLE, Ore.-Thursday, April 2, 2009-The buzz is building as we get closer to the 10th Annual UFO Festival on May 15 and 16, 2009, hosted by McMenamins Hotel Oregon. The festival, set in a small town in the middle of Oregon wine country, explores and celebrates the possibilities of life beyond Earth. On our decade anniversary, we welcome keynote speaker and journalist Linda Moulton Howe, who will discuss a 1974 military encounter with a UFO; Kathleen Marden and Stanton Friedman, co-authors of Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience. The True Story of the World's First Documented Alien Abduction (2007); and UFO witnesses Kris and Marc Bales. Tickets are 10 per event, 15 for two ticketed events or 25 for all three events; UFO tickets are available at www.ufofest.com.
Skeptics and believers alike are invited to enjoy all the events happening throughout the weekend - an outdoor festival tent and UFO gift shop, live blues and Americana from Gavin Wahl-Stephens, an outlandish alien costume parade, an alien pet costume contest, a performance of the 1938 Orson Welles classic "War of the Worlds" by Willamette Radio Workshop and more! And have a pint or two of McMenamins Alienator Ale, handcrafted especially for the event. To cap off the weekend, attend our Alien Costume Ball for live rock 'n' roll by Big Mama Gayle & Her Sugar Daddies and a chance to win prizes for the most comical or well-done space outfit. All events are free and open to all ages, unless otherwise noted. Additional information and photos can be found at www.ufofest.com.
Please note: All of our speakers are available for print, radio and television interviews. Contact Renee Rank, McMenamins Marketing Director, at (503) 492-5457 or ReneeR@ed.mcmenamin.com for scheduling and availability. See www.ufofest.com for additional photos and a video from our 2008 event, along with schedule details, festival history and beyond...
About the Speakers:
Linda Moulton Howe o Saturday, May 16 o 4 p.m.
Reporter/Editor for Earthfiles.com and Investigative Reporter for "Coast to Coast AM with George Noory" and "Dreamland Online" with Whitley Strieber
Linda Moulton Howe is a graduate of Stanford University who has devoted her film, television and radio career to science, medicine and the environment. With videotaped interviews, slides and illustrations, Howe will present one family's eyewitness account of a 1974 military encounter with a UFO in Albuquerque, NM.
Kathleen Marden o Friday, May 15 o 7 p.m. (in conjunction with Stanton Friedman)
UFO Researcher and Co-Author with Stanton Friedman of Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience. The True Story of the World's First Documented Alien Abduction (2007)
Marden is the niece of Betty and Barney Hill, the focus of one of the most well-known alien abductions in UFO history. With UFO research luminary Stanton Friedman, Marden co-authored the story of her aunt and uncle's harrowing 1961 experience. During her long career as a social worker, educator and certified hypnotherapist, Marden implemented model educational programs and taught adult education classes on UFO and abduction history. For 10 years, she served on the MUFON Board of Directors as the Director of Field Investigator Training.
Stanton Friedman o Friday, May 15 o 7 p.m. (in conjunction with Kathleen Marden)
Internationally Recognized UFO Researcher and Lecturer
In 1970, Friedman left his career as a physicist to pursue the scientific investigation of UFOs. Since then, he has lectured at more than 600 colleges and 100 professional groups in 50 states, nine provinces and 16 foreign countries. Friedman has published more than 80 UFO-related papers and has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs. He has also provided written testimony to Congressional hearings and appeared twice at the United Nations.
Kris and Marc Bales o Saturday, May 16 o 10 a.m.
UFO Witnesses, Northern Idaho, September 2000
While on an overnight hunting trip, four men witnessed an enormous, triangular object hovering 200 feet above them. The report they filed with the National UFO Reporting Center reads: "My brother and I... like to think we are normal, educated, businesspeople.... We all have excellent eyesight. This was also a 'dry' camp. Although this exceeded the limits of our known comprehension we felt privileged to have witnessed this most incredible piece of equipment." Two of these eyewitnesses will relate their incredible experience.
2009 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All ticketed events will be held at the McMinnville Community Center (600 NE Evans St.), just two blocks away from McMenamins Hotel Oregon.
All events are free and welcome to all ages (unless noted).
Friday, May 15
Kathleen Marden event at 7 p.m. o McMinnville Community Center
10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)
Live music by Gavin Wahl-Stephens
As part of the Great Northwest Music Tour
7 p.m. o Mattie's Room at Hotel Oregon
Live music by Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol
7 p.m. o Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon o 21 & over
Saturday, May 16
Food event at 10 a.m. o McMinnville Community Center
10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)
Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Following the Bales presentation: Peter Davenport, Director of the National UFO Reporting Center (Seattle, WA)
Davenport will discuss UFO cases that were reported in 2008.
Vivid Curve Digeridoo-Making for Kids
Kids can make a cool digeridoo and then walk in the parade and play them.
11 a.m. o U.S. Bank Plaza on Third St. o First come, first serve (up to 50 kids)
UFO Costume Parade
1 p.m. o Third St.
From school groups to marching bands to crazy floats to dancing Hammerheads, all are welcome to participate in the parade! Go to ufofest.com for an application!
Alien Pet Costume Contest
2 p.m. o U.S. Bank Plaza on Third St.
Dress little Spot or Fluffy up as a UFO, an alien or what-have-you! Give your pet a moment in the alien spotlight.
A Performance of Orson Welles' classic "War of the Worlds" by Willamette Radio Workshop
2 p.m. o Mattie's Room at Hotel Oregon
Speaker's Forum with Keynote Speaker Linda Moulton Howe, investigative reporter and editor of Earthfiles.com
Doors at 3 p.m.; event at 4 p.m. o McMinnville Community Center
10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)
Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Following the Keynote Forum: A Q&A panel emceed by Peter Davenport, including Kathleen Marden, Stanton Friedman and Peter Robbins.
Live music by Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol
7 p.m. o Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon o 21 & over
Alien Costume Ball
Featuring the live music of Big Mama Gayle & Her Sugar Daddies
7 p.m. o Mattie's Room at Hotel Oregon o 21 & over
Rooms at McMenamins Hotel Oregon are sold out - please refer to the McMinnville Downtowners Association or the Chamber of Commerce for alternate local lodging.
ABOUT McMENAMINS HOTEL OREGON
Set in Oregon's idyllic wine country 40 miles south of Portland, McMenamins' historic 1905 hotel in McMinnville is the perfect retreat for guests wanting to uncork and unwind. Cozy guestrooms, a comfortable restaurant and pub, live music on weekends, the legendary Rooftop Bar and more offer visitors from far and wide several reasons to simply relax. Hotel Oregon is also home to the quirky and fun UFO Festival, now in its 10th year and the second-largest alien-related gathering in the nation! More than 5,000 visitors convened in downtown McMinnville for the 2008 festival and parade. The festival began as a way to honor the 1950 Trent UFO sighting in which two local citizens witnessed and photographed an unknown craft hovering in the sky above, said to be some of the most credible images of UFOs to date. See ufofest.com for more information.
ABOUT McMENAMINS HOTELS, PUBS & BREWERIES
The name "McMenamin" is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest, signifying a great place to enjoy handcrafted ales, wine, spirits and pub fare with family and friends. The dream began more than 20 years ago in the hearts of brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. With 56 properties (including Hotel Oregon) and counting, the siblings are considered to be pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew, historic hotels and music venue industries. Go to mcmenamins.com for additional information.
