Organizer: No Exeter UFO Festival This Year

The annual Exeter UFO Festival scheduled for this fall has been canceled, according to its organizer.

The festival has been held downtown for the last four years, drawing UFO enthusiasts from across the country.

Dean Merchant said he's taking a break from organizing the festival this year and said he's looking for someone else to take the reins. He said he wanted to make the cancellation announcement now so people who planned on attending by making hotel reservations don't get stuck.

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Merchant said he hopes the festival can be continued in 2014.

"I still hope things can work out in some fashion to continue the Exeter UFO festival," he said in an e-mail message. "It has been so popular in the community and has many fans who travel to Exeter to be a part of it."

He said any updates on the festival will be posted on the New Hampshire UFO Research Facebook page.

The festival was held in Exeter in part because of a famous 1965 incident where a UFO was seen flying around. Also, New Hampshire was where Betty and Barney Hill famously said they were abducted by aliens in 1961.

PREVIOUS STORIES

• The 2012 Exeter UFO Festival
• The 2011 Exeter UFO Festival