“OFFICIALLY IT NEVER HAPPENED.”
But the Kecksburg UFO Festival is officially happening July 19-21, 2024. The jet-setting Bernie O'Connor talks to Ron Struble and Stan Gordon about this year's event.
by Bernie O’Connor – bernieoandufos@gmail.com – #6 in our series on UFO Tourism
(UPDATE: The speakers for this year’s festival have been announced!)
2024 marks the 59th year of an enduring mystery that brought a quiet farming community in Pennsylvania to national prominence.
It was the evening of December 9, 1965 and a fireball was spotted speeding south from Canada. It passed over six U.S. states before it appeared in the skies of Westmoreland County, PA. Some witnesses who saw it only a few hundred feet above them reported it to be a solid object with a fiery tail. The object performed several high speed maneuvers before finally crashing to the ground in a heavily wooded area in the vicinity of Kecksburg.
After that fateful night, and the media storm that followed, the town of Kecksburg was never the same.
To commemorate this historical UFOlogicial event, the Kecksburg UFO Festival is held each year in this tight knit community. The event is a major fundraiser for the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department (K.V.F.D.) and EMS squad.
Back on that fateful day in 1965, volunteers from the K.V.F.D. were heavily involved with the UFO emergency. They actively took part in the search for the object, and also helped with traffic control that night as hundreds of people descended on the small rural township trying to get a look at the mysterious “something” that had fallen from the sky. The Fire Station was reportedly used that evening as a temporary command post while the military allegedly loaded the retrieved device onto a truck and then headed off to Wright Patterson Air Force base in Ohio.
Wanting to know more about the Festival and the UFO incident, I reached out to Ron Struble, President and Chairman of the Kecksburg UFO Festival.
Bernie: Thank you Ron for sharing your time with me today. I know the readers of The Observer will enjoy learning more about your community’s big event. How did it come about? Did you get any push-back on the UFO theme?
Ron: Sure, Bernie, thanks for asking me. It all began nineteen years ago when the K.V.F.D. made a proposal to start having a bigger community Festival by commemorating the UFO incident. We surveyed the town’s merchants and people to get their input. To our surprise, they came back to us and said collectively: “Well, what are you waiting on?”
The first thing we did was to have a local artist come up with a design to put on a hat of the “Acorn,” as we locals call the UFO craft. Then a shirt followed. These items were a big hit right off the bat! We do a new design for the Festival each year. These shirts and hats become keepsakes for us. Today, the Festival is a major fund-raising event for the K.V.F.D and the Kecksburg EMS.
Originally we held the Festival in December, when the incident happened. But this year we made the decision to hold it on July 19th, 20th, and the 21st. We feel we will get better attendance at that time of year as December can be very cold here in Western PA.
B: Who does all the planning?
R: At the start of the Festival, I was appointed the President and Chairman of the Kecksburg UFO Festival. But it’s the town’s event, so each year, the event is planned by members of the community along with members of the K.V.F.D. Plus we have over 50 local businesses that sponsor the different activities and attractions such as free fireworks, a parade, food, music and prizes. If it wasn’t for all the community involvement, we would not be able to get it all done. And most importantly, we have the full support of the Mt. Pleasant Twp. Supervisors.
B: How many people usually attend the Festival and where do they come from? Are these events free?
R: In the beginning, only a few hundred local people showed up. It has grown into a major event of one to two thousand people over the course of the three days. Entry and parking are free.
We also have plenty of room for trailers and motorhomes to park for free. People from all over the globe come and visit us—even as far away as Japan—and we are known as one of the must-see Festivals in America. The community is very proud of it. Each year the Festival is getting bigger and better. But it’s still a down-to-earth community event of local crafts, food, and families getting together. And that’s the way we are going to keep it.
B: Can people visit the alleged UFO crash site?
R: No. The crash site is on private grounds. But we do have the full-sized reconstruction of the Acorn made from witness impressions of the event here at the Firehouse. In 1990, the NBC television show Unsolved Mysteries aired an episode partially devoted to the Kecksburg crash and this is the prop they created for the segment. It’s proved to be a year-round attraction. We even had a couple get married under the Acorn.
We have had three documentaries and or movies made of the event. This year, the History Channel came to Kecksburg to do more research on the incident for a piece that will be airing this Fall. They filmed here for five days and got permission to access the site. Their show will feature new anomalies they discovered there.
B: You also feature a UFO Conference at the Festival with guest speakers discussing UFOs, Bigfoot and other local cryptids. How popular are these presentations?
R: These talks are a big draw with 200–300 people. Standing room only! I rely totally on our resident Kecksburg Incident expert, Fortean investigator and author Stan Gordon, to organize the conference. He arranges speakers from all over the area to donate their time for this event. Stan also thoroughly investigates any unusual UFO reports and follows-up on information relating to the 1965 event.
B: Could you please tell me more about the K.V.F.D’s UFO Store?
R: The store started out in the basement of the EMS building. The next thing we knew, sales grew to the point we were open year-round with the addition of an online store. T-Shirts and glassware are our best-sellers, along with toys, hats, sweatshirts, DVDs and books. All proceeds from the store go to support the local K.V.F.D. and EMS.
B: Ron, let me ask you, did an unusual event involving the crash of a strange craft really happen in Kecksburg in 1965?
R: Did it happen!? Did it happen!? Ever since we opened our UFO Store, countless people have come in to shop. In conversation, they casually mention that they were there on December 9th, 1965, or that they know someone who was. Something did happen that day. What it was, only time will tell. I was there and I know. I saw the military presence—so something did happen. There were a number of Kecksburg firemen, who have now passed on, who stated it did happen. I was fortunate to train under these men of great reliable character, and I know what they said is true, something did happen here in Kecksburg! “Again, only time will tell.”
B: Ron, thank you for your time today. How do people learn more about the Festival?
R: The best way is by our website, or email us at: kecksburgufo@wpa.net. They can also contact the Kecksburg VFD UFO Committee at: (724) 423-2580.
Thank you Bernie, and I invite all your readers to come and join our gathering of family, friends, good food, fellowship, and fun for all.
Stan Gordon, the Indefatigable UFO Investigator continually on the scene.
It’s the evening of December 9th, 1965 and a 16-year-old is attentively listening to a nearby Pittsburgh radio station. Tonight the station is interviewing the pioneering talk radio host Frank Edwards—all the way from New York. Edwards is going to talk about a special topic the boy is very interested in: the Flying Saucer mystery! The boy has been researching Flying Saucers since he was ten years old. Now, as the teenager is hanging on Edwards’ every word, when suddenly:
“We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin! It’s been reported that a fireball, traveling at a high speed, has been sighted in the area. It’s reported to have crashed near Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. Authorities and emergency crews are responding to the scene. We will bring more information on the situation once it is available.”
The young man couldn’t believe his ears. “Kecksburg!” He thought. “Kecksburg! I live in Greensburg. I live just 12 miles north of there!” At the time, this young UFO enthusiast did not realize he was about to embark on what is now, a lifelong investigation into what has come to be called, “The Pennsylvania Roswell.” This nationally recognized expert on the Kecksburg Incident is named Stan Gordon, and he still lives in Greensburg.
Granted, this reporter dramatized the above—but the depicted situation did actually happen, and Stan Gordon went on to be a well-respected Fortean researcher. He’s the author of four books, and an award winning producer and director. He has appeared on numerous TV shows, and has been featured in many documentaries and podcasts. He is also a frequent guest on George Noory’s Coast to Coast AM show. Stan, being the busy man he is, still gratuitously made time to grant me an interview.
Bernie: Hello, Stan. Thank you for speaking with the readers of The Observer. Please tell us, what role do you play in the Kecksburg Festival? Will you be speaking at it this year?
Stan Gordon: I help the K.V.F.D. organize the Festival’s UFO Conference and find speakers to present at it. Yes, I will be speaking again this year. The public is always interested in hearing about the most recent UFO and cryptid cases that I have been investigating in the area. On Sunday the 21st, we will have one, or possibly two, very important new speakers on the UFO topic. The speaker’s list will be announced at a later date. Every year the conference is jammed with people, so I always recommend arriving early to get a good seat.
B: Stan, you have been investigating the Kecksburg incident for 59 years now—and you must be congratulated for your devotion to it—but is this case running out of steam? Can anything more be learned from it?
SG: December 9, 1965, was a long time ago. Many of the witnesses who were involved with the incident have passed away. Yet, last year over the Festival’s three day period, several older fellows independently stopped by my table and shared their experiences as youngsters, having been to Kecksburg with their parents that evening in 1965.
Over the years, I’ve talked with various people who say they saw black and white photos taken of the tarp covered object on the military truck. I know people who still have contact with individuals who were closely involved with the search and recovery of an object—however they still refuse to talk about what they saw. So it’s safe to say surviving witnesses might still be out there who have very valuable information on the case.
Today the public and congress are taking the UFO/UAP subject more seriously. Couple that with the items whistle-blower David Grusch had the courage to talk about concerning a secret UFO recovery program, and it’s likely that more solid evidence of what happened here in 1965 may come to light. Regardless of what the object was that fell near in the woods that night, it appears that a quick military response plan was already in place in 1965 to recover the device.
B: While you’re attending the Festival, do people come forward and openly share their UFO experiences or Bigfoot encounters with you? Do you investigate these leads?
SG: Every year, among the thousands of visitors who attend the Festival, I often have people stop by my table or one of the other researcher’s tables to share with us their experience with a UFO, Bigfoot, or other strange occurrence. Some of those reports are often of recent date. And yes, we definitely follow up on these new cases.
B: After your many years of investigating the—let’s use the collective term, “paranormal”—is there any advice you would like to share with Fortean researchers who are just starting out?
SG: Over the years, it became apparent to me that some incidents—especially involving UFOs that initially sounded unusual—often turned out to be misidentifications of natural or man-made objects such as Starlink satellites, bright planets, drones, or weather phenomena. Some Bigfoot sightings turned out to be large shaggy dogs, bears, or hunters in camouflage. It is important to become familiar with man-made and natural sources. Become familiar with the wildlife in your area and the odd sounds some animals can make. While many strange incidents have explanations, each year mysterious encounters are reported that can’t be easily dismissed.
B: What’s the most fun you have at the Festivals?
SG: For me it is interacting with the many people who attend each year and hearing about all the fun they are having. The children and adults enjoy watching the parade, playing various games, and eating at the variety of food vendors. Many people attend and cheer on those who are participating in the UFO hot dog eating contest.
B: You mentioned the whistle-blower David Grusch and government retrievals earlier. Do you think anything positive will come from all the renewed interest and congressional activity and media attention revisiting the UFO/UAP question?
SG: I think the public in general is much more interested and open minded today regarding both the UFO and Bigfoot mystery. Especially in this area, where such sightings are reported yearly. It appears that some important legislation has been introduced to make more historical UFO information available to the public. However, I am doubtful that certain important UFO information will ever be declassified anytime in the near future.
I have been of the opinion for quite a while that the government, while knowing more about the UFO/UAP topic than they are telling the public, doesn’t have all of the answers either to this ongoing mystery. The more I investigate UFO/UAP and cryptid cases, the more It becomes apparent that we are dealing with incidents that are beyond our present day scientific understanding.
B: How do you address skeptics who offer up conventional explanations, such as a satellite reentry, a conventional plane crash, etc., to the Kecksburg case?
SG: This year will mark 65 years of my UFO/Bigfoot research. It will surprise many people that I have never seen a UFO or a Bigfoot. I don’t try to convince anyone about the reality of the Kecksburg case, or other UFO or cryptid incidents. Many people will never be convinced that such things occur until they have their own experience. I have met multitudes of people over the years that used to laugh at such stories until they encountered something so strange that it changed their lives.
There have been many theories regarding the Kecksburg object since the time it occurred. Was it something man-made that was very advanced and secretive for 1965 technology or was it something much stranger? Maybe someday we will know what really fell near Kecksburg.
B: How busy is your 24-hour UFO & Bigfoot/Cryptid Sightings Hotline (724-838-7768) Do you get credible leads from it?
SG: I started my UFO Hotline in 1969. The phone calls have never stopped, and I receive current and past UFO and cryptid reports on a regular basis. I also receive many email reports as well. I often receive credible leads on important cases.
B: OK, Stan here comes probably the toughest question to answer here. After all your years of dedicated research into this head-scratching, gee-whiz phenomena, what do you think is going on here? Do you have a theory to explain it all?
SG: I began my official field investigations of UFO and Bigfoot sightings in 1965, after the Kecksburg incident. In 1970, I founded the first of three volunteer research groups that would investigate these cases in Pennsylvania for many years. I led teams of research specialists such as scientists, engineers, police officers, and former military specialists on investigations into many strange cases.
I have been of the opinion for years that there is more than one origin for the unknown category of UFO/UAP observations. Some of these sightings could be of ET origin. Since the early 1970s, I have investigated numerous UFO, Bigfoot, and cryptid cases that are highly strange, and suggest that whatever we are dealing with has a physical and non-physical component to it. For lack of a better term, I will call it “interdimensional.” I am of the opinion that what is occurring is so beyond our present scientific understanding that it also baffles our government.
B: Thank you again Stan for your time today. What’s the best way people can get in touch with you to report a UFO sighting, Bigfoot encounter or to schedule a talk?
SG: I can be reached by phone at my Hotline: (724) 838-7768 or my email: sightings@stangordon.info. For updates on my most recent investigations, books and appearances they can visit my website, Stan Gordon’s UFO Anomalies Zone.
B: Good luck with this year’s Festival. Hope you get some great new cases out of it.
SG: Thank you Bernie, I’m looking forward to all the fun on July 19th, 20th and the 21st!
I haven't made it to the Kecksburg Festival yet. I hope to one day. Thanks for this.
Thanks for covering this subject-matter Bernie! The Kecksburg UFO has always interested me, and is very similar to the device described by Igor Witkowski's "The Truth About the Wunderwaffe" and also in Dr. Joseph Farrell's "Brotherhood of the Bell". I strongly suspect that the Kecksburg craft was more likely from human than alien origins. Cheers, Mike