Thousands of residents and visitors flocked to Pine Bush last weekend in a feverish search for extraterrestrial life, but what they found instead was even better: the Pine Bush UFO Fair Weekend, a four-day festival between May 30 to June 2 that left attendants starstruck and believing in the unknown more than ever.

Pine Bush, known as the UFO capital of the East Coast, has experienced strange sightings and occurrences for over a century, garnering a legacy of supernatural proportions. In celebration of this history, the Town of Crawford and Pine Bush UFO & Paranormal Museum host a fair and parade in the hamlet each year, where alien enjoyers gather and indulge in all things out-of-this-world. This year’s festival was particularly special as the town and museum expanded the one-day fair into a four-day event, offering a variety of new activities to the community.

The festivities began on Thursday, May 30 with the Cosmic Drum Circle led by the Pine Bush Area Arts Council at Alice Court, where attendees played drums and other percussion instruments that could be heard in the farthest reaches of the universe. On Friday, residents experienced blasts from the past and future during the 1980s Space Prom, where dancers boasted their moves and outfits. On Sunday, residents returned to Alice Court for the Intergalactic Cornhole Tournament, an old-fashioned hoedown where contestants wrangled beanbags and enjoyed country cuisine and music from the Sons of Hudson.

Of the four events, the biggest by far was the UFO Fair last Saturday; between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., hundreds of attendants crowded Main Street in Pine Bush and perused over 200 vendors selling the essentials for any aspiring astrobiologist. Those who needed a break from browsing could grab a bite to eat and listen to the numerous performances throughout the day, from the rocking tunes of Blue Alien Mystic to the antics of Pete and Chris Paliuli.

“It’s awesome, we love it. I love that people come over and bring this stuff,” said Lily Savitska, a staff member of Pine Bush Dental visiting from New Jersey. “We don’t have this kind of stuff in New Jersey, it’s just so big here.”

“It’s unique and different from any other event. It has music and is very organized,” said Billy Martinez, a member of Boy Scout Troop 37 who called passersby to try his group’s funnel cake.

Around 1 p.m., the fair’s paranormal parade marched through Main Street, followed by a pageant to determine the best costumes among both pets and people. In the evening, several speakers educated their audience on the science and studies behind extraterrestrial activity, including Director Darcy Weir showcasing his documentary “Transmedium” and Author Mike Bara discussing research for his book series “Ancient Aliens.”

“I love it, it’s bustling and there are lots of families,” said Robin Seemangal, the chief of Supercluster, an organization dedicated to space education. “Parents and children love learning about space, and this fair is a great way to educate everyone.”

“What don’t I love? I love everything about the fair, lots of great and friendly people,” said Laurie Jenkins, an attendant who dressed with her friend, Sue Tinkham.

Whether you participated in one of the events or all of them, this year’s UFO Fair Weekend had something otherworldly for everyone, whether they were the most die-hard enthusiast or the most stubborn nonbelievers.

"We were here last year and we enjoy dressing up. We’re looking forward to attending the parade,” said Evan Meller, who picked up a couple of alien “hitchhikers” with his brother Evan.

“I like it, there’s a mixture of different vendors, local and non-local, and the weather’s great,” said Kim Richner, a member of the Pine Bush Lions Club.