June 13, 2020
Join alien and UFO enthusiasts the annual Spruce Pine Alien Conference & Expo (SPACE). Hear national speakers discuss stories of encounters and sightings. See and buy out of this world products and souvenirs. Dress up for the costume contest. Enjoy live music, kids activities, pub crawl, river race and more. The free event is held in downtown Spruce Pine, with most of the festivities along Locust Street, 9 AM-9 PM.
Did you know there are more UFO sightings in Spruce Pine and Michell County than anywhere else in North Carolina? Plus, North Carolina is in the top 10 UFO hot spots in the US! Perhaps it's because of the dark skies in this rural area and the expansive views from atop the surrounding mountains, including the Roan Highlands.
Go space gazing at the Bare Dark Sky Observatory, the first International Dark-Sky Association certified Star Park in the southeastern United States. View the moon, planets and stars through their 34" diameter Sam Scope, located in nearby Burnsville. Take a shuttle from the festival area (tickets & reservations required).
Many of the local businesses in downtown Spruce Pine get in the spirit.
Find lodging in Spruce Pine and nearby Little Switzerland along the Blue Ridge Parkway. See our Spruce Pine Guide for nearby things to do.
About 35 miles away are the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, a series of ghost lights reported sporadically for many years. Read more about the Brown Mountain Lights.
Spruce Pine
This small town offers not one but two main streets, Upper Street (Oak Avenue) and Lower Street (Locust Avenue). A must-stop is the Toe River Arts Council Gallery. Visit for many festivals and gem… read more
This small town offers not one but two main streets, Upper Street (Oak Avenue) and Lower Street (Locust Avenue). A must-stop is the Toe River Arts Council Gallery. Visit for many festivals and gem mining.
