The streets of Crawford were packed this past Saturday for their annual UFO Fair, an event that brings locals and out-of-towners together to show out in fun costumes, enjoy various vendors and learn about some supernatural experiences.

Sight-seeing kicked the weekend off, as many gathered at Alice Court for a sky watch gathering on Friday night. The event was hosted by United Friends Observer Society Support Group, a Walker Valley based association that aims to provide a safe environment for all UFO/UAP storytelling in the Pine Bush area.

Around 8:30 p.m. it got darker, and attendees relaxed on blankets and lawn chairs while munching on Pine Bush Deli and Pizza subs as the moon came out.

A facilitator of the United Friends Observer Society Support Group, Dr. Bill Wiand started the night off by sharing his insight on the UFO experience as a whole. Crawford Community Services Director Joan Miller mentioned that Wiand is one of the founding members of the UFO Fair.

“They [Wiand and other original members] came up with this idea 12 years ago, so we sat down and they told us the tradition and what they had in mind. One of the things they did was the Skywatch that they built as a group, and for years, they’ve been watching the sky and seeing amazing things,” said Miller.

Wiand spoke a lot about his mental experience after seeing extra-terrestrial beings, which he said first occurred when he was around six or seven years old. One listener asked him if he told his parents, which he responded to with “yes.” He explained that his mother didn’t make too much a big deal, thinking it was an imaginary friend or an “under the bed” type deal.

“It wasn’t just aliens. It was also maybe paranormal, because I did see spirits and stuff. My mom was never upset about it because she said it was like Washington Irving,” Wiand told the attendees.

The next morning Main Street was barricaded off so hundreds of people could enjoy the anticipated UFO Festival, which Crawford has hosted for over a decade. On top of the pop-up shops with alien t-shirts, food and drink vendors and a UFO conference presentation, there was also live music, a UFO trivia game challenge, and a “Best in the Galaxy” costume contest for those 18 and older.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the street was jam packed. Local businesses, organizations and eateries in the area also came out to promote their businesses and join in on the fun.