Paranormal conference packed
LYNDORA — Visitors to the packed Tanglewood Center circled the parking lot looking Saturday for a spot like Bigfoot stalking a camper.
The 15th annual Butler County Paranormal Conference was held at the center, 10 Austin Ave., from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dan Hageman, conference director, said he and several other coordinators of the event agreed that Saturday represented the biggest crowd they have experienced yet.
He said top-notch speakers and vendors, heavier and earlier advertising, spreading the word on social media and new freedom after the lockdown were contributors to the conference’s success.
“Plus interest is heightened in all facets of the paranormal due to the plethora of programming on TV,” Hageman said.
Keynote speaker Kathleen Marden gave a presentation on the purported 1961 alien abduction of her aunt and uncle, Betty and Barney Hill, their subsequent hypnosis and her own experience with aliens.
Marden said later she gives eight to 10 presentations per year across the United States. She was impressed with the conference Saturday.
“It’s wonderful to see a nice, large audience of people who are really knowledgeable about the paranormal,” Marden said as she signed copies of her books for those buying them.
In another room, a woman was on her back while a Reiki practitioner slowly waved his hands six inches above her body, another woman used a spirit board with a vendor, a ghost-hunting organization showed its paranormal evidence on a TV screen and chatted with visitors, tarot card readers and psychics offered their services for a price, and all manner of eerie merchandise was available for purchase.
Nicole of Butler County said she came because she is an open-minded person.
“I’m interested in all this stuff,” said Nicole, who declined to give her last name.
Nicole feels the paranormal may provide an explanation to some people who can’t find answers elsewhere.
“It’s another way to answer questions not answered by religion or science,” Nicole said. “I feel like this fills a gap for people.”
Rod Fee, co-founder of the Titusville-Oil City Paranormal Society, said he is open to all paranormal and metaphysical ideas.
“It’s nice to mix and mingle with like-minded people,” Fee said. “We all enjoy each other’s company.”
Sterling of Butler County did not come to the conference to buy crystals or learn about cryptic creatures.
“I like weirdos,” said Sterling, who also declined to provide last name. “I don’t personally believe in anything going on, but I’m having fun talking to people.”
His daughter, Lileah, said she is willing to listen to people’s stories of the paranormal and remain open-minded.
“I thought it was enjoyable,” she said of the conference.
