FIRST CONTACT DAY
First Contact Day on April 5th commemorates a fictional date in the future when an alien species visits Earth and makes contact with Earthlings for the first time.
#FirstContactDay
While the fictional date of 2063 is less than half a generation away, mere humans contemplate the possibilities the further we explore space. Not only do the modern explorers keep our interests piqued, but the science fiction genre continues to pour out stories that thrill and excite us.
One of science fiction’s common themes depicts the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrials. Conspiracy theories surround Area 51, but a popular one speculates that first contact was made there. UFOs often stir up theories about the first contact, too. The earliest documented sighting of a UFO took place in 1639 and was recorded by the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop.
While celebrating the first contact could mean many things, this celebration focuses on one kind – the Vulcan/humankind meeting. That’s right. It’s a “final frontier” kind of celebration.
HOW TO OBSERVE FIRST CONTACT DAY
- Brush up on your Star Trek history before you board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Actually, you’ll need to study a little more recent history of sorts.
- In any case, here are some ideas for your celebration.
- Attend a first contact re-enactment party
- Practice your Vulcan greeting
- Watch the film Star Trek: First Contact
- Visit Bozeman, Montana
- Share your first contact stories
- Participate in online celebrations
- Play the song “A Magic Carpet Ride”
- Download and print the day’s coloring page.
- Use #FirstContactDay to share your experiences and to join the conversation on social media.
FIRST CONTACT DAY HISTORY
In 1996, Star Trek: First Contact was released in theaters across the nation. Starfleet and crew travel through time and encounter the historical figure, Dr. Zefram Cochrane. His spacecraft, the Phoenix, launches and becomes the first in human history to reach warp drive. Moments after the launch, Vulcans appear at the base near Boseman, Montana.
The date is April 5, 2063, and First Contact Day honors the achievements of Dr. Cochrane and the historic first interactions between humans and Vulcans. Present-day sci-fi fans celebrate the event as well.
First Contact FAQ
Q. Who starred in Star Trek: First Contact?
A. Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Alfre Woodard, Levar Burton, Brent Spiner, and Gates McFadden are just a few of the actors who starred in Star Trek: First Contact.
Q. Are there other movies that depict a first contact scenario?
A. Hollywood has long been fertile ground for sci-fi imaginings, including travelers from another world making first contact with humans. Some of those films include:
- (1953) The War of the Worlds directed by Byron Haskin and starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson.
- (1977) Close Encounters of the Third Kind directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, and Terri Garr.
- (1982) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and C. Thomas Howell.
- (1997) Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, and James Woods
