A disc golf tournament with a cosmic twist is teeing off later this week in Carman, offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy a fun-filled evening of friendly competition, quirky costumes, and a celebration of local history that’s truly out of this world.
The Charlie Red Star Disc Golf Tournament, organized by the Charlie Red Star Committee, is one of several special events taking place this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Carman’s most legendary and mysterious visitor: an unidentified flying object affectionately known as Charlie Red Star.
Open to all ages and experience levels, the tournament invites teams of four to five players (or solo players who can be grouped with others) to enjoy a laid-back round of family-friendly disc golf. Melissa Emerson-Froebe, local business owner of Paul’s Place and a member of the Charlie Red Star Committee, says there’s a $10 entry fee that includes participation in the tournament and contests for best costume, closest throw to the pin, and even a prize for the elusive hole-in-one (known in disc golf as an “ace”).
“Disc golf can be a serious, professional sport with big tournaments and rankings, but this isn’t that,” says Emerson-Froebe. “This event is recreational, relaxed, and focused on fun. It’s all about introducing people to the sport, getting outside, and embracing a quirky, special part of our community’s history.”
Participants are encouraged to embrace the extraterrestrial theme with alien- or space-inspired costumes, such as green face paint, tinfoil hats, UFO-themed accessories, or your best Men in Black impression. A BBQ social will follow the event, for attendees to gather, eat, and share stories under the summer sky.
The UFO that lit up the prairies
While disc golf may be the main event this month, the real star of the celebration is Charlie Red Star, which fascinated southern Manitoba since the spring of 1975, when dozens of sightings of an unidentified glowing red or orange object were reported across the region.
Witnesses described the object as a ball of light, often seen hovering in fields or following vehicles down rural roads, sometimes accelerating or changing direction with uncanny speed. While no one reported harm, many were frightened by the mysterious sightings, which occurred repeatedly across multiple communities, including Carman, Spurling, and areas south of Winkler.
“It wasn’t harmful in any way, but it scared people because they didn’t know what it was. It was just this big glowing light that suddenly traveled alongside your car or appeared overhead, and nobody could explain it," she explains.
One of the most iconic images of Charlie Red Star was captured by Freddie Giesbrecht, a local professional photographer who set up a camera on a timer outside her kitchen window. Her photo remains one of the best-known visual records of the phenomenon. Giesbrecht’s images were even sent to Canadian authorities for review, though officials claimed the light was likely a planet such as Jupiter or Venus, an explanation many residents still reject.
“There wasn’t the technology back then to easily record what you saw, no smartphones or digital cameras, but people saw something, including my wife’s grandmother. It’s part of our community’s identity, even if it was never fully explained,” she notes.
The mystery has even drawn international attention. UFO researcher Grant Cameron, now a recognized name in global UFO studies, wrote an entire book based on the sightings, titled Charlie Red Star. Additionally, The National Enquirer named Carman one of the world’s top UFO hotspots, on par with Roswell, New Mexico.
More than just a tournament
The Charlie Red Star Disc Golf Tournament is just one of a series of events the committee has organized to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1975 sightings and spark renewed local interest in the phenomenon.
Earlier in the year, the committee hosted a virtual Q&A with author Grant Cameron, for attendees to ask questions about the sightings and UFO research. A community dinner featured a long-table meal themed around the UFO legend, and local elementary students participated in an art contest, producing Charlie-inspired artwork, which now serves as the official logo for this year’s campaign.
Currently, Paul’s Place Carman is hosting a mini-museum-style display of historic newspaper clippings, photographs, including Giesbrecht’s famous image, and UFO-related memorabilia tied to the 1975 events. A window decorating contest will take place later this fall, inviting local businesses to create Charlie-themed storefronts for the community to explore.
“It's a cool, quirky story, but back then, people were more embarrassed by it. People were put down for believing in it, so it never received the recognition it deserved. This year, for the 50th anniversary, we're trying to change that narrative. We're celebrating Charlie and getting the word out," she adds.
The Charlie Red Star Disc Golf Tournament takes place on Wednesday, August 20, at Kings Park in Carman. Players are asked to check in at 5:30 p.m., and tee-off will be at 6 p.m.
To register, email info@carmanchamber.ca or call Melissa at 204-750-8133. Players can also download the UDisc app for a digital map of the Kings Park course and other local disc golf locations.
Official merchandise will be available on the day of the event, which includes Charlie Red Star T-shirts, children’s books, and handmade crocheted plush toys of Charlie, modeled after the friendly alien character from a locally written children’s story.
Whether you're a disc golf fan, a lover of local lore, or simply looking for a lighthearted way to spend an evening, the Charlie Red Star Disc Golf Tournament offers a playful, community-focused celebration with just the right touch of mystery.
Have a Charlie Red Star sighting or family story of your own? Stop by during the tournament or connect with Melissa Emerson-Froebe to share your piece of otherworldly history.
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