(Photo Source: seti.org)

Groups are seriously planning events to storm Area 51

“Storm Area 51” isn’t just a viral Facebook meme. This week, Lincoln County, Nevada, approved two events that will take place near the secretive military training site long rumored to house aliens.

Over the summer, Matty Roberts, a 20-year-old Facebook user from Bakersfield, California, started a group called “Storm Area 51,” jokingly noting that the military “can’t stop us all.” He said the page was meant to be a joke–but it went viral, attracting thousands of people who really did want to storm Area 51 to look for extraterrestrials.

Two festivals will take place near Area 51 on September 20. Another Area 51-themed event will take place in downtown Las Vegas. Thousands are expected to attend the festivals.

(Photo Credit: Google Maps/Facebook screenshot)

However, the military is warning prospective attendees that storming Area 51 is no joke–and people who try to breach the restricted military training area will be arrested.

“The United States Air Force is aware of the Facebook post. The Nevada Test and Training Range is an area where the Air Force tests and trains combat aircraft,” a spokesperson for the United States Air Force said. “As a matter of practice, we do not discuss specific security measures, but any attempt to illegally access military installations or military training areas is dangerous.”