Roswell already hosts the largest UFO Festival in the world each July 4th. Now the home of the legendary 1947 Crash has become the gathering point for the oddly-shaped offspring of the legendary event more than half a century ago. When Volkswagen unveiled the "New Beetle" in the late 1990's, the company made an out-of-this-world admission in an advertising campaign. Volkswagen 'fessed up, admitting the cars are the result of "reverse engineering" from pieces of the broken alien spacecraft.

In 2000 the first group of New Beetles gathered in Roswell, drawn like moths to the flame. Five years later the reunion has grown, and caravans of New Beetles travel to the desert town from all around the country. This year the Volkswagen designers who initially contacted the aliens to get the technology used to build the Bugs will be returning. They promise to try re-establishing communication with the Mothership during the event's "Skywatch Party."

Other events include a nighttime "Bug Glow" parade and the world's largest New Beetle Only car show, complete with alien costuming for both cars and owners.