The fourth annual UFO Festival is set to return to Piedmont Friday and Saturday, April 24–25, bringing a full weekend of activities celebrating the community’s designation as one of Missouri’s “UFO Capitals.” The event will feature expert speakers, eyewitness accounts, vendors, food trucks, a parade, kids activities, an art walk, and other themed events across the city.
The festival is sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne County Historical Society, with many local businesses also hosting special events throughout the weekend.
A major highlight of the festival will be the speaker series hosted at the Wayne County Historical Society museum, where presentations will take place across both days. On Friday, April 24, the museum opens at 10 a.m. with a welcome. At 10:30 a.m., a museum volunteer will present an introduction and discussion on UFO historical controversy, followed by a question-and-answer session at 11:45 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., members of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) will present a visual PowerPoint on investigations, with audience interaction at 1:45 p.m. The afternoon concludes with Kevin Kinnard speaking from 3 to 4 p.m. on biblical perspectives related to the UFO phenomenon. The museum is expected to close around 5 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule begins again at 10 a.m. with a welcome and UFO presentation. At 11 a.m., Dennis Hovis will present “Celestial Encounters,” exploring the intersection of UFOs and faith. Following a midday break, Ozarks Haints N’ Hooch will speak at 1 p.m. on the history of UFOs in the Ozarks. At 2 p.m., the Missouri Bigfoot Field Research Team, including Mary Ann Ziebel, will discuss strange and unusual encounters during expeditions. The speaker lineup concludes at 3 p.m. with a ghost story presentation by Sue Henry.
Beyond the speaker sessions, the festival will offer a wide range of attractions along the McKenzie Creek Greenway, including vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. The popular Alien Abduction Dash 5K and Fun Run is scheduled for Saturday, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Ash Street Pavilion. Participants can still pre-register online through the Piedmont Area Chamber of Commerce.
Additional events are planned throughout the weekend to expand the festival experience. The Alien Parade will take place Friday, April 25, with lineup beginning at 7 p.m. at Clearwater High School and the parade starting at dark. No registration is required.
Saturday will feature a Pet Costume Parade, with registration at 11 a.m. at the Chamber booth on the greenway and the parade beginning at noon. An Alien/UFO Costume Contest for all ages will follow, with registration at noon and the contest starting at 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best alien, most creative, and best group.
Other activities include the Area 573 “The Piedmont Signal Investigation,” hosted by The Nature Cottage and Piedmont Pet Planet, offering a unique interactive experience for attendees. Live entertainment will also be part of the weekend, with Andy Moondog performing Saturday at Gooch’s.
A Fire and Light Show is planned for Saturday evening at Gooch’s, presented by Laura Anderson. Earlier in the day, a chalk art demonstration will take place at noon at the Ash Street Pavilion, where local artist Kai will showcase her work.
Organizers encourage residents and visitors alike to attend the growing annual event, which blends local history, mystery, and family-friendly entertainment into one of the region’s most unique festivals.