Unidentified Flying. . .

 The term at LBCC is cruising along and admittedly this blog post for Photojournalism is a wee bit past due. It is photographer's choice and this photographer chose to photograph McMinnville Oregon’s own UFO festival.

Since 1999 (excluding 2020 being canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic) McMenamins’s Hotel Oregon ,in McMinnville, Oregon, has hosted their annual UFO festival. For the 3 day event, the city of McMinnville closes its historic downtown on 3rd street to vehicle traffic as thousands of spectators and participants come from near and far. The event is in honor of locals Paul and Evelyn Trent who, on May 11, 1950, sighted and photographed what appeared to be a flying saucer. 

The Event draws people who participate to varying degrees, from simple accessories to elaborate full body suits. Regardless of attire, there are many that take the event quite seriously as Pacific Narrowest restaurant chain McMenamins (who founded and hosts the event) features guest speakers on the topic of UFO and alien encounters.


Saturday afternoon is the UFO festival parade, that runs the length of 3rd street and features both large floats and walking extraterrestrials--many of which don’t wait for the parade to explore the festival crowds. 



The UFO attracts many vendors selling their wares. Jacob Farmer, AKA “Cherry Robot,” of Beaverton, Oregon sells his sculptures of repurposed toys. Farmer is the author and owner of his own comic book universe “Cyborg Princess,” inspired by one of the first life-size sculptures he created.



Sources and more info on the UFO Festival can be found here.


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