OUT OF THIS WORLD:

All are welcome as Memphis hosts World UFO Day Festival.

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Memphis’ most significant contribution to UFO culture to date is probably “Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll,” the classic 1957 Sun rockabilly novelty single recorded by Billy Lee Riley and “His Little Green Men,” as the studio band was dubbed for the occasion.

As that jokey designation suggests, “ufology” — the study of Unidentified Flying Objects, to use the term coined by the Air Force in 1952 — was, in its early years, primarily the stuff of comic books, drive-in movies (“Earth vs. the Flying Saucers” arrived in 1956) and pulp science fiction. Is it still? The members of the Tennessee chapter of MUFON — the nonprofit Mutual UFO Network — don’t think so, and they’ll be out in force Thursday to make their case when they host the first public World UFO Day Festival in Memphis.

“We think this is going to be by far the largest UFO conference in the history of Tennessee,” said Eddie Middleton, 71, state director of MUFON and a sometime “field investigator” of local reports of mysterious phenomena. A Midtown resident, Middleton is the rare state MUFON director based in Memphis; most of his predecessors lived in East Tennessee.

Set to run from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Pine Hill Park and Community Center at 973 Alice, the festival is aimed not only at those intrigued by the possibility of earthly visits by extraterrestrials but also at families looking for unusual entertainment. Activities will include scientific and philosophical discussions; first-person testimonials about sightings and “entity encounters”; and — to demonstrate that UFO true believers have a sense of humor about their passion — a “Galactic Parade,” a “moonwalking” contest and an “Alien Pet Costume Contest.” (“Humans are not the only Earthlings who deserve to have fun,” explains a MUFON press release.)