An annual festival bringing fun, art, and history together returns for another year.
Sputnikfest kicks off in front of the Rahr-West Art Museum tomorrow (September 7th), beginning at noon with the 5K Art Run/Walk.
Rahr-West Executive Director Greg Vadney explained on WOMT’s After Further Review that everyone, if they want, should dress up as their favorite sci-fi character or just show up as is for a day of art and entertainment.
Vadney says Sputnikfest started in 2008 under former Director Barb Bundy-Yost after someone saw Sputnik IV mentioned on the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
“That’s what kind of started to rattle it around in their mind that like, hey, this is a really catchy space oddity,” Vadney described.
The question was then asked, “What can we do to kind of not really memorialize it but like celebrate the community?”
After the Run/Walk, people can attend go work on arts and crafts or see the 501st Wisconsin Garrison, a group that dresses up in authentic Star Wars costumes.
The costume contests for pets and humans take place between 3:00 and 5:00 pm, respectively.
Vadney also says anyone who wants to see a skit regarding “how the event happened,” the Masquers will put on a performance early in the festival.
“Two of the Masquers will be dressed as Officer Bauch and Rusboldt and taking pictures with people,” Vadney said. “But they also do a performance firmly tongue and cheek to talk about how confused both the Russians and the American were when Sputnik hit.”
Sputnikfest ends with the alien drop raffle at 6:00 pm.
Xposed 4 Heads returns for another year to provide music for the day.
The festival surrounds the day of September 5th, 1962, when a piece of the Sputnik IV satellite fell from space and landed on N. 8th Street in front of the Rahr-West Art Museum early in the morning.
Anyone will be able to see the circle where the piece fell.
