Ticket feature: Roswell UFO Festival going strong

Based on a visitor that's still questioned more than 60 years later, the City of Roswell is welcoming all walks of visitors Thursday through Sunday with its annual UFO Festival.

Courtesy photo: Roswell Museum

One of the features of the annual UFO Festival in Roswell is the costume contest, held for adults, kids and even pets. The festival runs this weekend throughout the city.

The city's legacy with UFOs dates back to July 1947, when an object crashed on a ranch 30 miles north of the city. The Roswell Army Air Field released a statement claiming to have recovered a crashed "flying disk," but revised its statement to say they found a weather balloon following the statement publication in the Roswell Daily Record.

The festival began in 1995.

Events featured include:

• The 18th annual Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell Alien Chase 10k and 5k will be held 7 a.m. Saturday. The races, hosted by the Roswell Runners Club, starts at the Roswell Civic Center and ends at DeBremmond Stadium. The current entry fee is $20, with proceeds benefiting the Roswell Humane Society.

Awards will be presented to overall winners in each race for male and female and age group winners from 10 to 70-plus years will receive a ceramic commemorative alien. Awards will also be given for well-costumed alien runners or walkers.

Information: 624-6720.

• Costume contests for both humans and pets on Saturday, with a pet contest 10 a.m. on the north lawn of the Roswell Civic Center and a 3 p.m. human contest inside the center.

Pets ranging from dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, and other out-of-this-world critters vie for Best Alien Pet of 2012. The top three pets will be awarded trophies, and Best Pet Alien receives $50. Attendance and registration are free, but registration is due by 9 a.m. Saturday.

The human competition has categories for adults and children (16 and younger). Each age division includes categories for most creative, TV/movie personality and scariest. Second-place winners receive a trophy, while first-place winners receive a trophy, $50 and eligibility for a $250 best of show award.

Information: 624-6744, ext. 10.

• A series of 16 lectures at the Roswell Museum and Art Center's Bassett Auditorium, with speakers including Dennis Balthaser, Dr. Donald Burleson, John LeMay, Noe Torres, and E.J. Wilson.

The free lectures begin at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Information: 624-6744, ext. 10.

• An alien parade 6 p.m. Saturday.
• A series of laser light shows and planetarium presentations at the Robert H. Goddard Planetarium, with ticket prices up to $7 per person.

Information: 624-6744, ext. 24.

Fast facts

What: UFO Festival

Where: Roswell

When: Thursday-Sunday

Information: http://www.ufofestivalroswell.com