Commerce Cabinet
UFOs and Aliens to “Appear” at Hopkinsville Festival

The city of Hopkinsville is inviting all UFO believers (and skeptics) to come to Christian County Aug. 18-21 for a 50th anniversary commemoration of the “invasion” of the Little Green Men.

On the night of Aug. 21, 1955, residents of the tiny community of Kelly near Hopkinsville reported a terrifying encounter with several creatures that apparently disembarked from a UFO sighted by a friend of the Elmer “Lucky” Sutton family attending a gathering at the Sutton farm. 

 As the Little Green Men (described as appearing somewhat similar to the latter-day “ET”) approached the farmhouse, shotgun blasts fired by Sutton and friend Billy Ray Taylor reportedly failed to stop the curious aliens’ advance toward the humans. The startling standoff ended when the aliens vanished without a trace.
 
 The commemoration of this alien enigma will feature panel discussions on UFOs with experts Joe Nickell, George Fawcett and Peter Davenport, along with descendants of the witnesses; a film on the incident, Monsters of the UFO; a concert/picnic with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra; a kids’ alien costume contest; and a “Space Jam Alien Ball” with music by The Cruisers. Most of the events will be held at the Hopkinsville-Christian County Conference & Convention Center.

Storytelling bus tours to Kelly will depart from the center at 12:30, 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations are required.

 To obtain more information on the festival, call the Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-842-9959 or visit www.kellygreenmen.com.

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The Kentucky Department of Tourism, an agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, exists to promote The Commonwealth as a travel destination, generate revenue and create jobs for Kentucky’s economy.