The coastal town of Conway, South Carolina, will host its second annual UFO Festival this weekend, a three‑day event that blends entertainment with scientific discussion in an effort to attract visitors and spotlight the region’s growing interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). Organized by the non‑profit group Coastal Skywatch, the festival runs from October 30 to November 1 at the Conway Convention Center and surrounding parks, offering a schedule that includes alien‑themed musical performances, panel discussions with aerospace experts, and hands‑on exhibits that explore both historic sightings and the latest government disclosures.
Festival director Maya Hernandez said the programming is designed to appeal to a wide audience, from longtime ufology enthusiasts to families looking for a novelty weekend. “We want people to have fun while also learning about the serious research that’s happening around UAPs,” Hernandez explained. “The panels feature former military pilots, astronomers, and members of the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, so attendees get a balanced view of the evidence, the mysteries, and the scientific methods being applied.” The expert lineup includes Dr. James Hardy, a senior researcher at the University of Texas’ Center for Space Studies, who will present recent analysis of declassified Navy footage, and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Sara Miller, who served in the U.S. Air Force’s UAP task force and will discuss the department’s current investigative protocols.
In addition to the talks, the festival’s entertainment roster leans heavily into the cultural fascination with extraterrestrials. Local band “Cosmic Groove” will debut a set of original songs inspired by classic sci‑fi soundtracks, while performance artist “Zara Luna” will stage a light‑show choreography titled “Signal from the Stars,” using drones and projection mapping to simulate an imagined contact scenario. Interactive exhibits feature a replica of the 1967 “Phoenix Lights” display, a VR experience that lets participants pilot a simulated craft through a reconstructed 2023 UAP encounter over the Atlantic, and a “UFO‑Spotter” workshop where amateur astronomers teach attendees how to differentiate between aircraft, meteors and genuine anomalies.
City officials hope the festival will provide a measurable boost to Conway’s tourism sector, which has seen a modest 3.2 % increase in visitor spending over the past year. Mayor Thomas Baker highlighted the economic potential, noting that the town expects an influx of roughly 5,000 out‑of‑town guests, translating into higher occupancy rates for local hotels and increased patronage for restaurants and shops. “Events like this diversify our cultural calendar and put Conway on the map for niche tourism,” Baker said. “We’re prepared to support the influx with additional public safety staffing and transportation options to ensure a smooth experience for both residents and visitors.”
The Conway UFO Festival arrives amid heightened public and congressional attention to UAPs. In June 2025, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee released a bipartisan report urging greater transparency and funding for UAP research, while the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a supplemental briefing confirming that several recent sightings remain unexplained. This broader context has spurred a surge in community‑level gatherings, from academic symposia to pop‑culture conventions, as the public seeks both credible information and a sense of shared curiosity. Organizers of the Conway event stress that they aim to maintain a factual foundation while embracing the imaginative aspects that draw crowds.
Tickets for the three‑day festival are priced at $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12. Early‑bird sales have already reached 60 % of capacity, prompting the organizers to add an extra evening “Stargazers’ Night” on November 1, featuring a telescope viewing session led by the local astronomy club. Whether attendees come for the music, the science, or simply the novelty of a town-wide celebration of the unknown, the Conway UFO Festival represents a concerted effort to blend curiosity with community development, positioning the city as a modest yet notable hub in the nation’s expanding dialogue on unidentified aerial phenomena.
