One of the largest UFO festivals in the United States is almost here as thousands of alien enthusiasts get ready to come together and celebrate in downtown McMinnville.
The 26th Annual McMenamins UFO Festival begins May 14 and runs through May 17. It is hosted by the company’s Hotel Oregon outpost and is considered the second largest UFO festival in the United States, next to the Roswell UFO Festival in New Mexico.
This year’s iteration comes amid a major release of never-before-seen “UFO files” from the federal government.
Organizers describe the event as a place “where skeptics and believers come together,” bringing thousands of visitors to downtown McMinnville for a weekend filled with speakers, live entertainment and extraterrestrial-themed fun.
Here’s what to know about the McMenamins UFO Festival.
What is the McMenamins Hotel Oregon UFO Festival?
The McMenamins UFO Festival began in 2000 and traces its roots back to one of the most talked-about UFO sightings in Oregon history.
On May 11, 1950, McMinnville residents Paul and Evelyn Trent reported seeing a strange metallic object hovering above their farm outside the city. Evelyn first spotted the object in the sky and called for Paul, who quickly grabbed his camera and snapped two photographs before the object disappeared.
The images soon gained national attention after they were published in newspapers and magazines, sparking decades of debate over whether the photographs captured evidence of extraterrestrial life or if they could be explained another way.
Though widely considered a hoax, the “McMinnville UFO photos” remain among the most famous images ever taken of a flying saucer and helped cement the Oregon town’s place in UFO lore.
Fifty years after the sighting, McMenamins launched the first UFO festival in May 2000 as a way to celebrate the story and the curiosity surrounding it.
What started as a small local gathering has since grown into a massive annual event featuring costume contests, live music, panel discussions, parades, a costume ball, vendors and speakers focused on UFO history and unexplained phenomena.
The McMenamins 26th Annual UFO Festival begins May 14 and runs through May 17 and is considered the second largest UFO festival in the U.S.
What events are planned for the 2026 Oregon UFO Festival?
Here are the events on tap for the 2026 McMenamins Hotel Oregon UFO Festival:
Thursday, May 14 bonus events
5:30 p.m. — Close Encounters of the 3rd Vine at the Hotel Oregon tent.
7 p.m. — Live music and UAP pass pickup party at McMenamins Hotel Oregon.
Friday, May 15
10 a.m. — “Into the Parabnormal” podcast recording with Jeremy Scott at Hotel Oregon.
Noon — Speaker presentation by Kelly Chase at McMinnville Community Center.
3 p.m. — Speaker presentation by Matthew Szydagis at McMinnville Community Center.
3 p.m. — Street fair with vendor booths in downtown McMinnville.
7 p.m. — Landing Party at the Hotel Oregon tent.
7 p.m. — Speaker presentation featuring an undisclosed whistleblower interviewed by Jeremy Corbell at McMinnville Community Center.
Saturday, May 16
9:30 a.m. — Speaker presentation by Jason Martell at McMinnville Community Center.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Street fair with vendor booths in downtown McMinnville.
Noon — UFO Festival Parade through downtown McMinnville.
1:45 p.m. — Alien Costume Contest at the McMenamins tent.
3 p.m. — Speaker presentation by Rebecca Charbonneau at McMinnville Community Center.
3 to 5 p.m. — UFO Trivia at Hotel Oregon.
7 p.m. — Speaker panel and Q&A at McMinnville Community Center.
9 to 11 p.m. — Alien Costume Ball at the McMenamins tent.
Sunday, May 17 bonus events
11 a.m. — Breakfast with the speakers at Mattie’s Room
Tickets are required for speaker presentations and can be purchased through ufofest.com. Most other events are free to attend.
The McMenamins UFO Festival began in 2000 and traces its roots back to one of the most talked-about UFO sightings in Oregon history.
How to visit the 2026 Oregon UFO Festival in McMinnville
The McMenamins Hotel Oregon 26th Annual UFO Festival is free, with some event ticket options.
It is held in the downtown McMinnville Historic District at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon, located at 310 NE Evans St.
Visitors can go to the event website at ufofest.com for a full schedule of times and ticket options.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: UFO Festival returns to McMinnville, Oregon for 2026