Alien hunters set sights on Pasadena
As a number of UFO sightings continue to be reported around the world — including several recently in the United States — thousands of people will soon gather to discuss the myriad theories surrounding extraterrestrial beings during an out-of-this-world event taking over Pasadena.
AlienCon, a convention that takes a serious and scientific look at the possibility of alien life, will return to the Pasadena Convention Center on March 4-5.
“People who come range from the inquisitive to being enthusiasts,” said Jill Tully, vice president of A+E Networks Consumer Enterprises, co-organizer of the event with Prometheus Entertainment. “We cover everything from the long history of UFO incidents around the world to close encounters of the first, second and third kind, abductions and other unexplainable mysteries.”
The convention is inspired by History Channel series “Ancient Aliens” as well as “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” “The UnXplained” and “The Proof Is Out There,” which all look at the tantalizing possibility of life beyond Earth.
With an emphasis on scientific research, AlienCon will cover the scope of unexplained alien phenomena, from ancient mentions in Egypt and by the Mayans to the present day, with the help of some big names within the field. Some of the guests include Jay Stratton, a former defense intelligence officer with the Office of Naval Intelligence and director of a Defense Department task force on UFOs; investigative journalist George Knapp; Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, co-executive producer of “Ancient Aliens”; and Nick Pope, who worked for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense investigating UFOs and other mysteries.
“It's a mixture of really good information from researchers and investigators who do a really deep
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dive,” Pope said. “But also, it's fun.”
According to Tully, AlienCon is a more academically focused gathering featuring about 50 panel discussions, though it also offers an outer space-themed marketplace with nearly 100 vendors and plenty of guests who show up in costumes. “People come in and they want to hear from experts and contributors,” she said. “These are people who are very curious and want to sit and listen and really learn about the subject, so it's a little different than a comic con.”
Among the panel topics will be the possible alien connection to human origins, unexplained sightings of mysterious creatures, and how forensic tools and technology can help determine the legitimacy of videos, audio recordings and photos.
The convention also comes at a time when the topic of UFOs is hotter than ever. Following the U.S. military's downing off what is thought to be a Chinese surveillance balloon off South Carolina this month, three other objects have been shot down over North America. Things got even more intriguing for alien enthusiasts when Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, recently told reporters he hasn't ruled anything out when asked if aliens could be involved.
“I think that was hugely impactful,” Pope said. “Because for years I think some people, not everyone, but some people felt a little embarrassed about this interest they had. Is this interest that I have fringe? And the answer to that question now is no, your interest has just gone mainstream.”