In latest twist, Alienstock to provide ‘party in the desert’ instead of ‘storm’

RACHEL, Nevada — Rachel, population 54, billed as “the closest town to Area 51,” will be the site of the 3 a.m. (Pacific time) Sept. 20 “Storm Area 51.

A 30-minute drive from Rachel, the town of Hiko is more than twice as big, with 119 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

However, as of Aug. 20, Time magazine report that instead of going through with the Area 51 raid in September, it looks like the creator of the “Storm Area 51” Facebook event plans to party in a town just outside of it.

In the wake of Matty Roberts’ pledge to invade Area 51 — a highly-classified military base long believed to be a secret alien holding site — going massively viral over the course of the past month, the extraterrestrial enthusiast is launching an alien-themed festival dubbed Alienstock that’s intended to take place in lieu of the raid.

Roberts has said that he created the original event as an “entirely satirical” meme page, but with over 2 million Facebook users “going” and another 1.5 million “interested,” he decided to refocus his efforts on an initiative that’s less likely to draw attention from the U.S. Air Force, which has said an emphatic “no way” to the idea.

As for Alienstock, according to its website, it is a “party in the desert” that will feature camping, music, art installations and surprise performances. Brock Daily, one of Roberts’ fellow organizers, told TIME that a lineup of mostly EDM performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

“They can’t stop us from gathering and celebrating aliens! This event is taking place whether we set up or not — it’s basically its own entity now,” the site reads. “We’re aiming to establish something unique here, a meeting place for all the believers. Come out to the desert to dive into a world full of live music, arts, and camping under the stars.”

The festival is meant to bring together people who are interested in the mystique surrounding Area 51 without encouraging them to attempt an illegal raid on a top-secret military installation.

“We encourage attendees to bring all of their essential needs — and we ask that everyone remember to fill up those gas tanks!” the site notes. “We’ll have the critical infrastructure set in place, we can’t wait to share this experience!”

Although several locals met with the Lincoln County board of commissioners on Aug. 19 to discuss ways to prevent Alienstock, the board ultimately issued the special permit for the festival. However, at the recommendation of the county sheriff’s department and emergency management office, it pre-declared a state of emergency for the weekend just in case. “We felt
it was prudent,” Bevan Lister, the board of commissioners representative for the seat in nearby Pioche told TIME.

Alienstock is set to take place the same weekend as the original event: Sept. 20-22. Early-birds are invited to arrive on Thursday, Sept. 19, a day that will be devoted to parking and organization. The festival will officially begin on Friday, Sept. 20, and end at noon on Sunday, Sept. 22.

“We’re doing everything in our power to establish an amazing experience,” the site reads. “You can expect a gathering that defines our current generation. From the new people you’ll meet, to the new music you’ll hear —  this will be unforgettable!