Rocket City launches costumes to new level at Yuri's Night space party

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Some would say the costumes were out of this world at this year's fifth-annual Yuri's Night celebration in Huntsville.

Astronauts, aliens, and people in plain clothes alike danced, drank and bid

on auction items during the last hours of the celebration, 
held at the 
U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Davidson Center for Space Exploration. 

The event celebrating man's first space voyage began at 6 p.m., with events and activities catering to kids until 8 p.m. Fr

om 8 p.m. until after 1 a.m., adults were encouraged to enjoy mingling, music and six cash bars.
It was one of more than 1,000 Yuri's Night celebrations across the country. The events celebrate Y

uri Gagarin, the first human to make a complete orbit around the Earth, 53 years ago.

This year's celebration also featured a red carpet entrance, DJ, three projection screens for music videos, costume contest, laser lights and more.

More than 200 people were on the dance floor at the event around 9:30 p.m., and auction items were going quick.

Jessie Shirmer and Charlotte Ellett were excited to win BrewFest tickets and donated to a good cause while doing it.

The pair won two tickets to the 6th Annual Rocket City Brewfest on May 9 and 10 by bidding $80 in a silent auction benefiting CAJA. Other auction items included a wooden rocket figure that sold for $600, restaurant, spa and golf vouchers, and more.

The duo said they had already seen several friends less than 30 minutes of being at the event.

"This is our third year coming," Shirmer said. "It's a lot of fun. We come because it's a good time and because we're into space."

Ellett dawned a purple wig, glow stick belt and cat space leggings to show her love of space.

Today marked the 53rd anniversary of Gagarin's historic voyage into space.

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