Heard Around the West

OREGON

liens and starships and lasers (oh my!) from a galaxy far, far away dropped in on downtown McMinnville for the 22nd annual McMenamins UFO Festival, May 13-14. The two-day festival—“for believers and skeptics alike”—featured speakers like Whitley Strieber, author of the bestselling book correspondent Bryan Bender; journalist Alejandro Rojas; and ufologists Irena Scott and Kathleen Marden. While there was no shortage of little green men, other out-of-this-world activities), the alien costume parade — always a crowd favorite — and a costume contest for pets. Because there’s no denying that cats, particularly long-haired ones, make terrific tribbles for a Close Encounter of the Purred Kind.