Elizabeth BoatmanI returned from Chicago, the site of Star Wars Celebration 2019, a couple of days ago. I’m still processing photos and sorting laundry. In the meanwhile, I offer you a glimpse back in time to earlier celebrations and why I attend such nonsense.
Costumes
A big draw is the people is costume.
The above image is from Celebration 2017 in Orlando. I’m sure I’ve included it in an earlier story.
I also go to have fun with the little kids. My daughter and I cosplay, too. Nothing on the level of the photo above. Nonetheless, we get into the spirit of the event.
Yes, we’re the tall Jawas. I’ll add that being a Jawa is tough. I couldn’t see where I was going! I can’t image what it must be like to be Bossk, the bounty hunter. Do you think he knows we’re all standing around him?
New Friends and Old
The best reason to go to Celebration is to see old friends. We’ve met a lot of people since our first convention in 2002. Many we see, again and again, people like Martin.
Let’s go back a little farther in time. Slave Leia is always a popular costume. I wonder why.
One of my favorite images is from 2005, Indianapolis.
Celebration is a lot bigger than it was in those early years. Attendance has quadrupled. Tickets are more expensive and harder to get. The five-day pass for this year’s event sold out within a day! Security is now more strict, and the lines are still long. In the end, it doesn’t matter. The important things for me are the small events, the lesser panels, the costumes, the children, and my friends from every part of the country.
Our first adventure
Before I close, I’ll share one more image. It is from my first Celebration way back in 2002. Halley was still in school, and I had no idea what I was getting into.
Years have gone by, and I’m a bit older. I still enjoy the agony of Celebration. Will I continue? It’s hard to say. Stay tuned, and I’ll fill you in on my adventures in Chicago.
To see a few more images from Celebrations of the past, click here.
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