Enjoying the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County

Experiencing the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.

The Kecksburg UFO Festival is a 3-day fire company fundraiser inspired by a 1965 UFO crash that occurred nearby!

2022 Kecksburg UFO Festival sign.
2022 Kecksburg UFO Festival sign.

Part carnival and part UFO/paranormal convention, it all adds up to a fun-filled weekend in Westmoreland County.

The Kecksburg UFO Festival is a fundraiser for the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
The Kecksburg UFO Festival is a fundraiser for the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department.

History of the Kecksburg UFO Incident

On the evening of December 9, 1965, a large, bright fireball was seen in at least six U.S. states before crashing near the village of Kecksburg, about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

The Kecksburg UFO Festival draws a large number of vendors specializing in UFO and paranormal artwork and merchandise.
The 1965 Kecksburg UFO Incident, portrayed on this original artwork for sale by a festival vendor.

In 1990, the NBC television show Unsolved Mysteries aired an episode devoted to the incident, suggesting an extraterrestrial craft had crashed near Kecksburg, not a meteor as authorities in 1965 claimed.

This replica of the Kecksburg UFO was created by the television show Unsolved Mysteries and donated to the town after the show aired.
This replica of the Kecksburg UFO was created by the television show Unsolved Mysteries and donated to the town after the episode aired.

The show quoted local witnesses to the crash who said they had found an object in the woods shaped like an acorn and about as large as a Volkswagen Beetle.

The Kecksburg UFO is often called the "Space Acorn" due to its distinct shape.
The Kecksburg UFO is often called the “Space Acorn” due to its distinct shape.

The craft supposedly bore writing resembling Egyptian hieroglyphs; the witnesses also claimed the object was removed under cover of darkness in a secret military operation.

The hieroglyphics witnesses to the Kecksburg UFO crash claim to have seen on the craft.
The “hieroglyphics” witnesses to the Kecksburg UFO crash claim to have seen on the craft.

In the years since, numerous books, movies, and television episodes have been devoted to the Kecksburg incident, with theorists suggesting whatever crashed near Kecksburg in 1965 could have been an errant Soviet satellite, an extraterrestrial craft, or even a secret Nazi UFO/time machine known as Die Glocke (“The Bell”)!

Kecksburg The Untold Story Movie about the UFO crash in Westmoreland County in 1965.
Kecksburg – The Untold Story movie about the UFO crash in Westmoreland County in 1965.

WHATEVER crashed near Kecksburg in 1965 may never be known, but the prop from the Unsolved Mysteries episode now resides on the hill next to the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department, and the Kecksburg UFO Festival is very much a real thing!

The Kecksburg UFO on the hill above the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
The Kecksburg UFO on the hill above the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department.

What Takes Place at the Kecksburg UFO Festival

In many ways the Kecksburg UFO Festival is similar to fireman’s carnivals across the state – there’s plenty of food, a corn hole tournament, and a parade (albeit a UFO-themed parade in the case of Kecksburg).

The Kecksburg UFO Festival features a large number of food vendors featuring all sorts of carnival and fair foods.
The Kecksburg UFO Festival features a large number of food vendors featuring all sorts of carnival and fair foods.

Cheesesteaks, funnel cakes, kettle corn – all your favorite “fair foods” can be found at the festival.

Kecksburg Fire Department kettle corn at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
Kecksburg Fire Department kettle corn.

Where the Kecksburg UFO Festival differs from other fireman’s carnivals is that there are numerous vendors and celebrities from the UFO-investigator community on hand (think Ancient Aliens and Hangar 1), making appearances, giving talks, and selling merchandise.

John Ventre from the History Channel show Hangar 1 is one of the celebrities that has been on hand previously at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
John Ventre from the History Channel show Hangar 1 is one of the celebrities that has been on hand previously at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.

At the most recent UFO Festival I was honored to meet Stan Gordon, renowned UFO and paranormal investigator, author, and film maker.

Meeting renowned UFO expert Stan Gordon at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
Meeting renowned UFO expert Stan Gordon at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.

You’ll also find plenty of vendors selling original works of art related to the Kecksburg UFO Incident and the paranormal in general.

Joe from Crytoteeology.com displaying one of his original art prints for sale at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
Joe from Cryptoteeology.com displaying one of his original art prints for sale.

Even the chainsaw carvers get in on the act, depicting aliens and Bigfoot in their wooden works of art.

Chainsaw carvings featuring aliens and Bigfoot at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
Chainsaw carvings featuring aliens and Bigfoot.

The UFO Store inside the Fireman’s social hall is where to get your “official” UFO Festival swag that benefits the fire company.

The UFO Store inside the Kecksburg Fire Department social hall.
The UFO Store inside the Kecksburg Fire Department social hall.

Hats, t-shirts, glassware – you name it, the UFO Store has it!

Kecksburg UFO Festival t-shirts are one of the fundraisers for the Kecksburg Fire Department.
Kecksburg UFO Festival t-shirts are one of the items available in the Kecksburg Fire Department’s UFO Store.

Hours and Directions

The 2022 Kecksburg UFO Festival takes place from Friday July 22th through Sunday July 24th.

The 2022 Kecksburg UFO Festival Schedule of Events
The 2022 Kecksburg UFO Festival Schedule of Events.

The festival takes place on the grounds of the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department at 5128 Water St, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666, roughly 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

A map to the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
A map to the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County.

If you can’t make it to the festival, you can visit the Kecksburg “Space Acorn” any time of year, on the hill above the fire hall.

The replica of the Kecksburg UFO is a popular photo-op during the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County PA.
The replica of the Kecksburg UFO is a popular photo-op during the Kecksburg UFO Festival.

The festival draws thousands of visitors (the terrestrial kind) to this tiny town over the course of the weekend.

A large crowd enjoying an evening at the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County, PA.
A large crowd enjoying an evening at the Kecksburg UFO Festival.

And because the festival benefits the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department, you can feel extra-good about indulging your curiosity and attending the Kecksburg UFO Festival in Westmoreland County!

The Kecksburg UFO Festival takes place on the grounds of the Kecksburg Fire Department.
The Kecksburg UFO Festival takes place on the grounds of the Kecksburg Fire Department.

Nearby Attractions

14 Must-See Attractions in Westmoreland County is your guide to the best things to see and do near Kecksburg.

Fort Ligonier on a late summer morning.
Fort Ligonier in Westmoreland County.

From historic forts to museums to state parks, there’s lots to see and do in Westmoreland County!

Exploring Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County PA
Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County.

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Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and creator of the PA Bucket List travel blog.