08/11/2026
THE STORY BEHIND THE SYFY BARTOW FLYING SAUCER
We had a few guests and others ask us
"Why is there a flying saucer in your logo ? ."
Every logo has a story.
Ours just happens to have a flying saucer.
More than a decade ago, we had an idea: create a science-fiction and pop-culture festival right here in our hometown of Bartow — outdoors, family-friendly and, most importantly, FREE for everyone to attend.
Working alongside the City of Bartow , the downtown district and members of our community, that idea became
SYFY Saturday.
What started as a relatively small gathering began attracting more visitors, more vendors, more cosplayers and more families.
After the first couple of successful years, we realized the event had become something much bigger than a Saturday festival.
It had become part of Bartow.
So SYFY Saturday became
SYFY BARTOW so the brand was created then copy written .
For more than a decade, the festival has continued under that name, welcoming generations of families, science-fiction fans, cosplayers, artists, vendors and visitors to our community.
THE LOGO EVOLVES
For many years, the SYFY Bartow logo proudly featured one of the most recognizable landmarks in our hometown — the historic Polk County Courthouse.
It connected the world of science fiction with the history and personality of Bartow.
When the City of Bartow introduced a more modern visual identity, we decided it was time for SYFY Bartow to evolve as well.
Our logo was redesigned with a more modern look that complemented the direction of our hometown while still keeping one very important piece of SYFY Bartow history.
The UFO.
That little flying saucer would eventually become much more important than we ever imagined.
WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING ABOUT OUR UFO...
It could fly.
For years, SYFY Bartow had been held in the heart of the city.
As the festival grew, so did our ideas.
We wanted more room.
Room for children's activities.
Room for larger displays and attractions.
Room for entertainment.
Room for families to spread out and enjoy themselves.
And room for SYFY to continue growing into something even bigger.
That philosophy eventually helped us realize something else:
Maybe the spirit behind SYFY Bartow didn't have to stay only in Bartow.
Maybe our little UFO could travel.
THE FIRST FLIGHT
An opportunity eventually came from Zephyrhills, Florida.
The Greater Zephyrhills Lions Club wanted to bring the excitement and atmosphere of our festival to their community.
There was only one problem.
We couldn't exactly land a spaceship in Zephyrhills with BARTOW written across the side of it!
So our UFO received a new flight designation and pilot.
SYFY FLORIDA logo was born.
Mingo the Space Flamingo was invented .
SYFY Florida became part of the growing Bartow Con LLC family of events — built around the same basic philosophy that helped create SYFY Bartow:
Bring people together.
Create something fun for families.
Support local organizations.
Give vendors, artists, creators and small businesses an opportunity to be seen.
Whenever possible, keep admission FREE or reasonable to attend the event.
Our Zephyrhills event was a tremendous success and even more importantly, helped support the work of the Greater Zephyrhills Lions Club and the community they serve.
For us, that proved something we had wondered about for years.
The spaceship really could fly.
AND IT'S GETTING READY TO FLY AGAIN...
Bartow will always be home.
SYFY Bartow is where this adventure began, and it will always be the heart of what we do.
Our mission has grown.
We believe events like this can make a difference for smaller communities.
SyFy can introduce visitors to a town they've never explored.
Can bring customers into local restaurants and businesses. They can give local organizations a platform. Creating memories for families without requiring an expensive admission ticket just to walk through the gate.
That's why keeping these community festivals free has always been so important to us.
Now our little flying saucer with pilot Mingo the flamingo , is preparing for its next mission.
SOMETHING BIG IS COMING IN 2027.
We're not quite ready to reveal the destination.
Not yet.
We can tell you this:
The SYFY Bartow UFO will be taking off again.
We will officially reveal where it's headed during the next SYFY Bartow Festival in February 2027.
After all these years, that little spaceship that started in Bartow has become a symbol of something much bigger than a festival.
It's a symbol of imagination.
Community.
Small towns working together.
The belief that sometimes a crazy little idea can grow into something you never expected.
The countdown has begun.
Next stop... 2027.
— Sean & Lori Serdynski
Bartow Con LLC / SYFY Bartow
