The Rigellians, typically being a highly xenophobic species, did not often allow offworlders to witness the festival, so in 2254 members of the USS Enterprise crew became the first aliens to witness the event in a thousand years when the festival took place the day before Rigel VII was due to join the United Federation of Planets. The year was also the last festival to feature a parade of Kaylar who were to be disbanded upon Rigel's entry into to the Federation. However, an uprising of the Kaylar led to the planet not becoming a member, so whether or not they continued to play a part in the celebration is unknown.