For nearly 60 years, the tiny town of Kecksburg, about an hour southeast of Pittsburgh, has been haunted by one unanswered question: What crash-landed there on the night of Dec. 9, 1965? Was it an acorn-shaped flying object etched with strange symbols, as witnesses claimed, or an exploding meteorite? Starting Friday, July 17, the annual Kecksburg UFO Festival celebrates the mystery with three days of paranormal lore, parades, contests, and classic small-town festival fun.
Now in its 21st year, the Kecksburg UFO Festival—a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department—has grown into one of western Pennsylvania’s quirkiest summer traditions. Along with nearly 100 food and craft vendors, live music, and fireworks, the festival takes a deep dive into the unexplained.
Throughout the weekend, UFO researchers, cryptozoologists, and paranormal experts will share theories, evidence, and eyewitness accounts about what’s been described as western Pennsylvania’s answer to Roswell. Headlining Sunday’s UFO Conference is longtime Pennsylvania UFO researcher and author Stan Gordon, who will discuss the Kecksburg incident and recent reports of unexplained encounters from across the region.
The Mystery That Put Kecksburg on the Map
Festival chair and longtime volunteer firefighter Ron Struble doesn’t have to rely on secondhand accounts. He remembers watching the mysterious fireball streak across the sky while living in nearby Greensburg.
“My wife and I got in the car and drove to Kecksburg,” Struble said. “By the time we got out there on what is now Meteor Road, the military was already there.”
Exactly what crash-landed—and what happened afterward—has been debated ever since. Whatever the truth, the mystery keeps thousands of visitors returning each summer for the festival.
What to See at the Kecksburg UFO Festival
Beyond the paranormal programming, the weekend includes a Saturday parade, with awards for Best UFO Costume and Best UFO Float. Sunday’s schedule includes the UFO Hot Dog Eating Contest, the UFO Conference, and a hay bale toss.
According to festival co-chair and volunteer firefighter Dave Nelson, the one can’t-miss event is the legendary UFO Bed Race. Scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, it features teams of five—usually decked out in elaborate extraterrestrial costumes—racing wheeled hospital beds through an obstacle course without hitting traffic cones.
“It’s pretty entertaining,” said Nelson. “People of all ages participate, and it’s fun to watch.”
Across from the fire department, visitors can also stop by the town’s photogenic, acorn-shaped UFO monument, created for an episode of Unsolved Mysteries that explored the Kecksburg incident.
Struble, who joined the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department in 1975, said interviewing witnesses over the years changed his own perspective.
“I was a skeptic at first,” he said. “But after hearing so many similar stories, I became a believer.”
Nelson agrees. “I do believe something landed in that field,” he said. “To this day, it’s one of the top 10 unsolved mysteries.”
– The Kecksburg UFO Festival runs from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, at 5128 Water St., Mount Pleasant. Festival hours are 6–11 p.m. Friday, noon–11 p.m. Saturday, and noon–5 p.m. Sunday.
– Admission and parking are free, and proceeds benefit the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
– For the full schedule, visit kecksburgvfd.com.
Story by Alyse Horn
Photo by Andrej Lisakov
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