Piedmont Marks 50 Years Since UFO Sighting With Festival and Shared Memories
To the point
Piedmont is marking the 50th anniversary of a local basketball team's UFO sighting with a town festival that unites residents of all ages, as Joe King and Gene Coleman recall the moment and Sarah Phillips of the Chamber of Commerce leads the celebration.
Excitement runs through Piedmont as the town marks the 50th anniversary of UFO sightings that became its talk of the town. Nikki Clark spoke with residents who remember the moment when the story spread from a basketball team’s discovery to conversations at school, even drawing questions from the government about what was happening. Gene Coleman recalls how it dominated everyday chatter, while Joe King remembers a red light that flashed, climbed high, and left lights shining as it crossed the hill. Now, half a century later, the town is covered in UFO imagery and embraces the history with a festival. The UFO Fest features expert speakers, 50 over-50 craft vendors, food trucks, and historic memorabilia from 1973. Sarah Phillips, the Chamber of Commerce director, says the weekend’s events celebrate the town’s history and bring together generations, while King and Coleman express relief that the community has finally embraced the story. They also acknowledge some regret about not speaking out earlier, but the shared memory now unites residents of all ages.
Source: youtube.com