Celebration IV- May 24-28, Los Angeles, CA

TheRandomMenace · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 1886

On starwars.com:

Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles To Mark 30th Anniversary of Saga
May 26, 2006

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Gen Con LLC will throw the largest party ever for fans of the saga, taking over the entire Los Angeles Convention Center in May 2007 for five days filled with live entertainment, celebrities from all six movies, special film and video presentations, an exhibit of movie props and costumes, exclusive merchandise sold at a 24-hour-a-day store, pop culture tributes, immersive events, costume contests, and scores of additional activities.

Star Wars Celebration IV will fill the L.A. Convention Center from Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28, 2007. Admission to the first day of the event will be for worldwide members of the Official Star Wars Fan Club, many of whom will help plan and run special programming themselves. The convention will be open to the general public from Friday through Monday, Memorial Day.

"Generations of fans have loved Star Wars, many passing along the 'Star Wars gene' to their children," said Steve Sansweet, Director of Content Management and head of Fan Relations for Lucasfilm. "This is the first chance to celebrate all six movies in the saga-George Lucas' complete story-as well as the vibrant future of Star Wars. If you've ever been to one of our Celebrations-or if you haven't been before-this is the one not to miss."

Celebration III, a four-day event held in Indianapolis in April 2005, attracted more than 34,000 fans from all over the world. "We started getting questions about a possible Celebration IV even while the last convention was running," Sansweet noted. "So we're determined to far outstrip anything we've done before, both in size and scope, as well as introduce many first-time activities and lots of exclusives."

Lucasfilm is also working on other Star Wars-related events in the Los Angeles area just prior to Celebration IV, "so we're expecting Southern California to become 'Destination: Star Wars' from the weekend before through Memorial Day weekend," Sansweet said.

The convention announcement was made jointly by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Gen Con LLC. Gen Con will once again manage the convention on behalf of Lucasfilm and the Official Star Wars Fan Club. The Celebration IV announcement is being made a year in advance to give fans worldwide a chance to plan for a week-long "Destination: Star Wars" blow-out in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is the ideal site for a 30th Anniversary convention, Sansweet said, since there are many Star Wars roots in the area. It was also the location of the first official Star Wars fan gathering, the 10th Anniversary Convention. Star Wars opened on May 25, 1977, on just 32 theater screens in North America, including Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.

One of the highlights for fans at a Star Wars convention is the chance to buy unique merchandise, including an exclusive, limited-edition action figure. Because this has led to bottlenecks and long lines in the past, the Celebration IV store will be bigger than ever, self-service, well-stocked with merchandise, have plenty of check-out lanes...and be open 24 hours a day from the opening of the show on Thursday until the close on Monday!

"Gen Con is thrilled to be working again with Lucasfilm on this very special event," said Peter Adkison, owner of Gen Con LLC, producer of Gen Con Indy and other Gen Con events. "Together I know that we will produce a convention that will not only meet, but exceed, fans' expectations. With Lucasfilm 100% behind this show, it's going to be the biggest party in the history of the franchise. We are particularly focused on dramatically improving the selection and service in the Celebration store."

Stay tuned to starwars.com as your primary source for updates about programming, guests, activities, entertainment and exclusive merchandise at Celebration IV to be released as they are confirmed closer to the convention. Online ordering for tickets to the event and for discounted hotel rooms is scheduled to begin late summer/early fall. There will also be information on getting around Los Angeles, traveling to and from the Convention Center, and on shuttle buses available for convention-goers who are staying in the city.

*does TPM Anakin voice*
YIPPPPPEEEEEEE! Very Happy

admin edit- changed topic header to prevent confusion. -b-

ADMIN EDIT - moved topic out of Event Planning

Anrev · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 469

I hope I can go. But its going to cost SOOOO much money. Need to get busy and win the LOTTO! Very Happy

Coyote · Jedi Knight Joined: Aug 15, 2004 Posts: 416

LA? No way.

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

I want to go but I'll have to think about it. It could be pretty expensive.

Why no way? Is La. that bad?

kenobilover · Jedi Knight Joined: Sep 09, 2005 Posts: 313

Well, I think it pretty much out of the question for us. That is Memorial Day weekend and we usually have ballet recital around that time. Plus, it is just way too expensive for us to go out there.

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

I don't know about this. The main reason I was able to attend Celebrations II and III was because they were within driving distance. To fly to Los Angeles and get a hotel for what, 5 or 6 nights is probably going to put this out of my price range.

Obi-WanJay · Events Councillor Joined: May 24, 2005 Posts: 380

i want to go to this but the cost will probably keep me away. however i do have an idea. i say we rent a few rv's and start a convoy to LA. it's about a 36 hour drive. whos with me.

Anrev · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 469

Swing through Denver and We'll join in!

Anrev · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 469

@ $109 a night X 6 nights = $654 + Tax.
+ tickets
+ gas
+ food
+ souvenirs
+ slush fund

= right around the $1000+ mark.

I REALLY doubt I could convince the wife to let me blow that kind of $$$. Crying or Very sad

Obi-WanJay · Events Councillor Joined: May 24, 2005 Posts: 380

it's a good thing the girlfriend is into this hobby; but that does doubble the $1000 estimate.

do they still buy blood?

Anrev · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 469

GOOD IDEA! Plasma and sperm bank.... Very Happy

I have an extra kidney too. Razz

Satxer · Jedi Knight Joined: Jul 04, 2005 Posts: 805

Lol, well the way I'm looking at this too is for the money it would cost to get to LA and rooms would be a price worthy of a new costume! This will complicate things. I'm not seeing a year from now as going or not....clouded the future is...

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

Considering the first Celebration was in Denver (which I had to miss because of finals/gradutation at KSU) we were very fortuante to have CII and CIII in Indy.

The cost, and my job prospects in the fall are going to be the determining factor in whether or not I even consider trying to make it out there.

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

Malo-ha wrote:

Why no way? Is La. that bad?

Armor. You've seen the tubs those dudes use to carry their armor. They hate taking those on planes because the baggage handlers just throw your luggage onto the plane and shipping costs an arm and a leg. Also, where do you ship it to? Your hotel? Someone you know in LA?

So, basically, your only other option is to drive. Yahoo Maps puts it at around 2350 miles, 33 hours if you don't stop. Let's be generous and say you make it in 40. That's almost 2 days. You're looking at almost a week and a half. Not a lot in the cosmic scale of things, but when you're asking your boss of time off so you can go get you geek on, well.....

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

Satxer wrote:

Lol, well the way I'm looking at this too is for the money it would cost to get to LA and rooms would be a price worthy of a new costume!

You need serious psychological help.