Star Wars Celebration

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Members of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion march at C3

Star Wars Celebration is an Official Star Wars convention held during banner years of the franchise. Beginning in May 1999^[1], Lucasfilm held a Star Wars convention in Denver, Colorado to celebrate the release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In 2002, Star Wars Celebration II was held to celebrate the release of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The convention was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to make use of the larger convention center.^[2] For the release of the final film in the saga Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Celebration III was held; again in Indianapolis, IN.^[3]

Star Wars Celebration website

With over 30,000 fans in attendance over the course of four days (April 21-24, 2005) Celebration III (C3) brought actor panels, costume contests and diorama building to the Indianapolis Convention Center.^[4] The Lucasfilm archive provided many important props and costumes for display. One of this Celebration's most noteworthy events was the unprecedented Q&A session with Star Wars creator George Lucas, his first such appearance since the Star Wars 10th Anniversary Convention in 1987. With approximately 10,000 fans in attendance (over the course of 3 half-hour sessions), Lucas personally answered several dozen fans' questions about the saga.

1 Celebration IV
2 Celebration Europe
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Celebration IV

On May 26, 2006, StarWars.com announced Star Wars Celebration IV (C4) to be held May 24-28, 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film^[5]. C4 was located at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California^[6]. Taking place on May 24 through May 28, the convention offered a record number of celebrities in the autograph hall, multiple exhibitors, a Star Wars art show, a Darth Vader helmet and Lucasfilm archive exhibits and many fan oriented activities. In addition, there were collector and costuming panels, including sneak peeks of the upcoming Clone Wars animated series. Fans were the first to see the footage of this series on Sunday morning as well.^[7] Other higlights included conversations with Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, a visit from Seth McFarlane and Seth Green for special Star Wars episodes of Family Guy and Robot Chicken respectively, and an efficiently organized Celebration Store. An estimated 35,000 ^[8] people are believed to have walked through the doors for Celebration IV over the Memorial Day weekend.

[edit] Celebration Europe

On September 25, 2006 StarWars.com announced Star Wars Celebration Europe (CE) to be held July 13-15, 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film. CE was to be located at Earls Court in London^[9]. But on November 22nd 2006 StarWars.com announced due to Advance interest in Celebration Europe the event would be moved to the larger venue located at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre^[10] in London^[11]. The event will have on display some of the largest restored Star Wars Arcade collection, estimated at around 30 to 40 machines. Many of them not seen in the USA or in other parts of Europe any more.^[12]