By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON
Strange things seen in the skies and a potpourri of the paranormal are the popular pursuits at this weekend’s UFO/Paranormal Summit, Friday through Sunday at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino.
In its third year and billed as a research conference, the event runs 6-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and wraps up Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon with a set of three limited-seating workshops featuring UFO and paranormal experts.
Event producer Johnny Manson, who lives “out in the woods” in the North Beach area, is the host of “Morning Madness,” broadcast weekdays on KJET 105.7 FM in Aberdeen, as well the “Strange Harbor” show that airs Sundays at 4 p.m. on KBKW 1450 AM and 100.5 FM. Manson also produces the annual “Sasquatch Summit” event in the fall at QBRC.
He said he expects about 500 earthly visitors to attend over the weekend. Friday’s program features Manson’s favorite part of the weekend, “Witness Testimony,” when ordinary people recount and discuss their extraordinary experiences. Saturday offers discussions of UFO sightings, alien abductions, ghosts and other paranormal occurrences, with eight separate speakers.
Manson said some of the wilder ideas that have been examined at previous events include “underwater UFO bases off Washington’s North Coast,” and alien abductions as a way “to help humans survive an impending global apocalypse.”
Tickets good for both Friday and Saturday are $35. Tickets for the Sunday workshops are limited to 45, cost $100, and include admission to all three days of the event. Tickets are available online at www.ufosummit.com or at the door.
UFO/Paranormal Summit Schedule
Friday, March 3
6 p.m. Meet & greet, vendors open
7 p.m. Marcie Klevens, paranormal researcher and experiencer.
8 p.m. Witness Testimony, hosted by Derrel Sims, “The Alien Hunter.”
9 p.m. Maury Island Incident, referring to claims made of falling debris and threats by men in black following sightings of UFOs over Maury Island in Puget Sound in 1947.
Saturday, March 4
9 a.m. Aleta Debee, Assistant Director of Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for Washington State, and an experienced field investigator.
10 a.m. Maureen Morgan, Washington MUFON State Director and member of MUFON’s Experiencer Research Team (ERT).
11 a.m. Thom Powell, science educator and author who taught at Robert Gray Middle School in Aberdeen for 31 years.
12 p.m. Lunch break.
1 p.m. Michael W. Hall, field investigator for the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), legal advisor to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), legal counsel and research associate for the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP), and MUFON consultant.
2 p.m. Elaine Meredith, practicing “Paranormal Safety,” with data provided by doctors, health departments and the Center for Disease Control
3 p.m. Joe Hauser, researcher, experiencer and former curator with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
4 p.m. Derrel Sims, “The Alien Hunter,” a leading expert on alien abductions with 38+ years of field research.
5 p.m. Dave Paulides, retired from a career that included 20 years in law enforcement and senior executive positions in the technology sector, now the director of the Can Am Missing Project and author of six “Missing 411” books.
Sunday, March 4
9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Workshops with Maureen Morgan and Aleta Debee, Derrel Sims, and the “UFO iTeam.”
Upcoming events
Editor’s Note: To add an upcoming event to the Coast Calendar, send full details to editor@northcoastnews.com
• Stage West dinner show. Saturday, March 3: Stage West Community Theatre will be hosting a mystery dinner and show called, Gin Joint, on March 3. The limited seating event is $25 per ticket, which includes a four-course Moroccan theme dinner, no host bar with gin-joint specials, and prizes for solving the mystery of the evening. Tickets are available at Delores & Fay’s or online at Stagewestcommnitytheatre.org.
• Beachcombers Fun Fair. Saturday, March 3 – Sunday, March 4: The 29th annual event at the Convention Center features exhibits, seminars, information booths, and vendors on Saturday and Sunday; a kid’s science fair Saturday morning plus beach walks on Sunday morning.
• Razor Clam Festival & Seafood Extravaganza. Saturday, March 17: Celebrating the natural bounty of coastal life. The event at the Convention Center features an artisan marketplace, children’s activities, live entertainment, cultural exhibits, and the highly anticipated Clam Chowder Cook-off. Cast your vote for the best chowder on the North Beach. Contact Chamber for info, (360) 289.2451.
• Stage West Theatre. Stage West Community Theatre presents the comedy The Neglected Husband’s Sewing Club by Peg Lynch. The play is being directed by Lorraine Hardin, and comes from the TV series, Ethel and Albert. At the Lions Club, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. Performance dates are March 23, 24, 25 and March 30-31.
• Dugan’s Run. Sunday, March 25: The 33rd annual fun run event hosted by Dugan’s Pizza on Ocean Shores Boulevard. Runs start at 10 a.m., with a 5k, 10k, youth mile and kids dash. Starts outside Sharky’s.
• Rockin’ the Shores. Saturday, April 7: Ocean Shores Food Bank will be “Rockin’ the Shores” at their third annual benefit at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The evening begins at 4:30 p.m. with a silent auction, dinner and music featuring the band Raucous. Tickets are $30/person or reserved table of 8/$250. Tickets at the Visitor Information Center, Ocean Shores Convention Center, (360) 289-4411, or by mail through the OSFB address, PO Box 1293, Ocean Shores, WA 98569. All of the net proceeds benefit Ocean Shores Food Bank, a 501(c) (3) tax-deductible organization whose mission is ”to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.”
• Fine Arts, Photo & 3-D Shows. Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29: Artists and photographers from all over the United States enter this show at the Convention Center to win prizes and display their unique photos and works of art.
• Running With Scissors. Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, May 13: “Running with Scissors” Craft Shows will be coming to Ocean Shores Mother’s Day weekend, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day a the Convention Center. Free admission and all are welcome to the handmade for Mom Boutique Bazaar.
• Expo. Friday, May 25 – Sunday, May 27: The 11th annual Expo; featuring Oceans of Fine Arts – Arts & Crafts Show, wood and ice chainsaw carving, hotrod and classic car show, memorial service honoring those who have passed and a home show over Memorial Day Weekend at the Convention Center.
• Ocean Shores Wearable Art Show. Saturday, June 2: Artists of all media types create functional and not-so-functional pieces of spectacular fashion in this year’s show, “It’s Only Make Believe” that comes to life in one magical evening of music, dance and wearable art at the Convention Center.
• Festival of Colors. Saturday, June 2 – Sunday, June 3: This is a great family kite-flying event for novice to professional kite flyers. Come fly a kite or enjoy the antics of colorful kites. Damon Road Beach Approach in Ocean Shores.
• Flag Day Parade. Saturday, June 9: A chance to show our patriotic spirit. The parade features more than 75 entries and a Grand Marshall. One of the only Flag Day parades in Western Washington.
• Sand and Sawdust Festival. Friday, June 22 – Sunday, June 24: Master, intermediate, & novice sand-sculptors compete on the beach and in town. At the Convention Center, master woodcarvers compete in this amazing annual competition. There are food, craft and specialty vendors. Live auctions are held daily on carvings.
