Volkswagen New Beetle Owners Head to Roswell for 2005 Roswell2K Car Show June 17-19

ROSWELL, N.M., June 13 -- DON'T PANIC! This week will feature sightings of mysterious pods in cities across America! War of the Worlds? No, Volkswagen New Beetles! Four New Beetle caravans will begin their cross-country trek from points across the nation, all making a B(eetle)- Line for the 6th Annual "Roswell "2K Car Show Weekend" from June 17 to 19.

Held in Roswell, NM, famous for a 1947 UFO crash that was reported then later denied by the U.S. military, the event is the largest VW New Beetle Celebration in the world. Hundreds of New Beetle owners are expected to attend the three days of festivities, which include a car show, New Beetle parts manufacturers, a parade, parties, rallies and more.

The event kicks off with a "SkyWatch Party," on Friday, June 17th (where something out of the ordinary is bound to occur). Experienced sky watchers of the Goddard Planetarium will be present and there will be plenty of free parking and food. The SkyWatch Party will be followed by a BUG GLOW Cruise where participants will decorate the cars with glowing objects and then caravan the cars back into town.

The Roswell 2K event will also feature a New Beetle car show on Saturday, June 18th in downtown Roswell at the Convention Center, followed by New Beetle Parade down Roswell's historic Main Street. Beetle owners have a chance at prizes in more than 60 categories and vendors will be present. New this year, one of the premier Elvis Impersonators in the country and a FAB Beatles Tribute Band, both directly from Las Vegas, will perform at the Convention Center Saturday night, June 18th.

Roswell2K grew out of two significant New Beetle occurrences. The first was as the first New Beetles left car dealer showrooms in 1998, Volkswagen enthusiast websites excitedly 'buzzed' with initial New Beetle 'sightings' from across the country. In 1999, given Roswell's reputation as the site of the alleged UFO crash, the event was firmly set following the airing of a New Beetle commercial stating (tongue firmly in cheek) that the car was "reverse-engineered by UFOs." The rest, as they say, is history.

For more information visit: www.roswell2k.org.