Carbondalien festival mixes fun, food, music and an alien mystery Attendees get into the spirit of the mystery of the reported alien visit Share this: By Geraldine Gibbons | ggibbons@scrantontimes.com | The Times-Tribune PUBLISHED: November 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM EST Carbondale on Friday and Saturday hosted its second Carbondalien Festival, a celebration of a tale that began on Nov. 9, 1974, when a group of teenagers told police they saw a red, sparking ball cross over Salem Mountain and plunge into a mining pond in Russell Park. The weekend events included a parade, concert and lots of other UFO-friendly activities. The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 7 The second annual Carbondalien Festival concluded Saturday in celebration of a local alien mystery that is becoming a tradition. The festival celebrated the 51st anniversary of an infamous incident in Russell Park that many believe was a UFO crash landing. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO) Source: https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2025/11/09/carbondalien-festival-mixes-fun-food-music-and-an-alien-mystery/