The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

Mcminnville comes in peace with UFO Festival

The 14th Annual UFO 
Festival’s weekend of events kick off with the Landing Party at 3:00 p.m. May 16, with 
extraterrestrial-themed vendors and tents on Third Street. People dress in brightly 
colored outfits for the UFO Fun Run at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, and a parade followed at 2 p.m.  Sarah Mason/Features editorEvery May, McMinnville abducts earthlings from across the galaxy to celebrate the second largest UFO celebration in the United States. There is history behind why the celebration is held in McMinnville.

At 7:30 p.m. on May 11, 1950, McMinnville resident Evelyn Trent noticed a “slow-moving, metallic disk-shaped object heading in her direction from the northeast” on her way back to her house from feeding the rabbits.Sophomore Katricia Steward dresses in a silver sparkly tank top with a green undershirt while riding a unicycle during the parade course. She rode next to a male dressed in a blue and silver metallic sparkled spandex suit (far right). Sarah Mason/Features editor

She hollered for her husband  Paul Trent to come see the unusual flying object. He snapped a picture of the object after grabbing his camera from the house. Paul’s father also saw the object before it disappeared into the distance.

Paul’s photograph of the flying object received a lot of national publicity and was featured in “Life” magazine. There has been much debate over the authenticity of the Trent’s photograph. Skeptics say it is a hoax and that the Trents staged the flying object to gain fame and fortune.

The interest surrounding this photograph has drawn crowds dressed in glowing green and metallic alien costumes. And has welcomed sci-fi and extraterrestrial lovers from across the universe to celebrate galactic forms of life.

Linfield students participates in the UFO Festival on May 16 and 17. Junior Alex Lazar, sophomores Brianna Epstein, Katie Krieger and Megan Beach attend the UFO Parade (close right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Mason/Features editor

Sarah Mason can be reached at [email protected]

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