10 Ways To Make Your Star Wars Celebration Experience Epic

Not so long ago.....in a galaxy not so far away, a convention for Star Wars fans from all over the world debuted in Denver, Colorado in 1999. It was dubbed Star Wars Celebration.  This semi-annual convention takes place in a different city usually every other year. This year, I had the pleasure of attending Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, and is easily one of my favorite cons to attend.  The next Celebration takes place in 2027 the Los Angeles Convention Center.  This one will be epic since it will hilight the 50th anniversary of the very first Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Chapter IV A New Hope.  If you choose to go, you will have a blast. I present to you 10 ways to make your Star Wars Celebration experience epic. 

1 Know the prices of the convention badges...you have options. SWC has more badge options than your usual pop culture convention. For starters, there are individual day badges for each day of the con. There are also 3 & 4 day passes for those attending the duration of the convention.  There are passes for children, press, vendors, staff, and one grand badge that stands mighty above all others. The Jedi Master VIP badge costs nearly $1000, but comes with a ton of immenities for those lucky enough to purchase one. You get perks like premium seating at panels, an express entrance to the SWC store, a limited edition badge, and much more.  As for the other badges, prices change year to year. Subscribe to the SWC newsletter to get updates. 

2 Your hotel doesn't have to be next to the convention. Trying to find a hotel for SWC can be a hassle, especially if you want a hotel next to the convention center. But, it might be to your advantage to book a hotel that is a little farther away.  The hotels close to the LA Convention Center will raise their prices, so choosing a place to stay that is a little bit farther will save you money.  Being farther away gives you more dining options.  Besides, everyone can use a good walk. 

3 Make paper copies of your badge order.  SWC gives you plenty of time to pick up your badges.  You will have three days before Celebration begins to get your badges and lanyard.  Having a paper copy of your badge order speeds up the process.  And also, come back to registration when the convention starts to get a complimentary collector's lanyard.

4 Bring a poster tube.  You will have the opportunity to receive free promo swag at Celebration.  Alot of swag comes in the fo rm of posters.  To protect your posters from being smashed in a crowded convention hall, bring a retractable plastic poster tube.  It will keep your posters and lithographs safe from smashing, and is easy to carry with a shoulder strap.  

5 Make sure you have cash as well as a credit or debit card. One mistake convention goers make is not taking cash.  There are tons of vendors at Celebration, but not all of them accept card.  Take enough cash just in case an item that catches your eye is a cash only sale. 

6 Take the Star Wars Celebration Shop out of your schedule.  Getting into the SWC shop is almost like winning the lottery.  Lines form almost overnight, making it unlikely for most convention goers to get in. But not all the exclusives can be found in the SWC shop.  There are vendors in the convention hall who offer their own exclusive items that you can purchase. The SWC website will list these vendors and where to find them in the convention floor. 

7 Don't be afraid to ask Cosplayers for pics.  Star Wars Celebration is a prime place for cosplayers to show off their work.  As long as you ask nicely, cosplayers will be more than happy to pose for you to take pictures.  It what their hard work deserves.  And SWC has the friendliest cosplayers. 

8 Don't stay quiet, you will make friends. SWC might just be the friendliest of all pop culture conventions.  You are basically amongst your tribe, and your tribesmen are super cool. Don't be afraid to start conversations with fellow con goers. They are looking to have just as much fun as you. Entry #9 will more than help you do that. 

9 Create or buy tradeable swag to exchange with other con goers doing the same. SWC is the best convention to meet new people by trading swag.  I brought several Star Wars Fiesta medals from the Star Wars Society of San Antonio to trade for swag.  Most of the swag you will see available for trade are patches.  You will see some unique yet cool items others are offering. In the image above is a Darth Vader bottle cap made by a cool guy from Dallas. If you want to take part in this swag culture, the best items to have made are patched, buttons, pins, key chains, and stickers. Make them look cool, and you will be making new friends in no time. 

10 Take your time.  There is a lot to see at SWC, so don't rush yourself. You want to take all what the convention offers, and hurrying through the convention hall can take all the fun out of your experience. Besides, your around 250,000 people, so hurrying may not be an option.  Unlike most conventions, Saturday is not the busiest day at SWC.  That distinction belongs to the first day.  It gets crowded, so don't sweat it when someone accidentally bumps into you. Let it go, and have a good time.