- Scott Chitwood, Co-Publisher Red 5 Comics
The excitement leading up to The Phantom Menace was uncharted, and probably will never be experienced again. I think people who went to Celebration all had that excitement in common -- it was just great to be there and know that everyone was just as hyper as you were. It sort of felt like being in the parking lot at a Grateful Dead concert.
- Ben Harper, DC Comics Editor
We were all a bit stir-crazy, and amused, that the exhibitor badges featured Jar Jar Binks. We wore two-way radios around our necks that hung right behind our badge, and one of us thought it would be funny to randomly (often when you were talking to someone) come over the radio and say the line from the trailer, "Yoosa thinka yoosa gonna die?," which would appear to be coming from the Jar Jar badge. It did manage to regularly crack us up.
- John Scoleri, Co-author of The Art of Ralph McQuarrie
Because there hadn't been a lot of time to plan the convention, Celebration was held in a former Air Force base hangar that had been converted into a museum for old planes... which remained there. There were also two huge tents. And then there were the once-in-every-50-years rain. The grounds turned to mud, the tents leaked, and ticket sales had to be cut off since we didn't have enough indoor space to shelter people. Star Wars Mudstock was born!
- Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm Head of Fan Relations
While Celebration was a fun-filled event, because of the timing and location there's a tragedy I'll always associate with it -- the Columbine shootings. It happened right before Celebration and the local papers had entire sections covering it for the week I was in Denver. At Celebration, there were donation boxes throughout the exhibit floor. With all the smiles Celebration provided, I always paused and reflected every time I noticed a donation box. It was a wonderful gesture by the event organizers to do some good for the victim's families.
- Jon "Blasty" Leopold, Great Lakes 501st Garrison PR Officer
Celebration was the first convention I had ever attended in my life. I had to borrow airfare from my mom, split a room with four other people I had never met before, and wait in a line while it rained to see Anthony Daniels. However, it was a great experience for me despite the lines, mud, and rain. I met people there with whom I've forged a lasting friendship with to this day -- all because of Star Wars! Here's to the next Celebration!
- Dustin Roberts, TheForce.Net Content Manager, Former Hyperspace Fan Club President
I never got too far out of the slimy mud hole, but I did manage to see the video to "Duel of the Fates," so I'd have to say that was my favorite event. It was a reminder that John Williams was at the top of his form, and a reminder that we were building up to the thrill of a lifetime.
- John Scoleri, Co-author of The Art of Ralph McQuarrie
People bond in adversity. Despite the conditions, here was the first really large gathering of the Star Wars Nation in at least a decade. People were in a frenzy about the upcoming Episode I, and were excited to meet the celebrities and see and hear things no one in the public had ever been exposed to before. There were long lines, usually in the rain, and instead of being sour, most people started talking to their neighbors -- and instant friendships were born. The whole sense of community and camaraderie among fans was born in the mud of Celebration I.
- Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm Head of Fan Relations
I was fresh out of art school and was quickly becoming discouraged by the reality of just how hard it was to get work as an illustrator. I arrived in Denver excited, nervous, and not knowing what was in store for me. I had fifty bucks, a backpack full of art and self-promotional stuff like T-shirts and postcards. When I got to the show, to be honest, I was pretty underwhelmed. It was freezing cold, rainy, and the convention was mostly outside in tents. There I was, lugging a ton of stuff around, trying to keep dry, and standing in lines to get in the showroom. When I finally got in, I turned around and ran smack into a bunch of people wearing Lucasfilm shirts, and just about knocked over Steve Sansweet! I freaked and started bombarding him with my art work. He calmed me down and started passing my work around to the other Lucasfilm people there. Steve handed me his business card, and told me to call him. I still have that card.
- Randy Martinez, Star Wars artist
The fans at Celebration were the most passionate Star Wars fans. They traveled from all over the world to be part of this experience. Not only did we wait in long lines in cold rain and ankle deep mud for the chance to see anything associated with The Phantom Menace, we enjoyed it. The complaints about the weather were always made with a smile and it became the running joke all weekend. The elements didn't bother us because we were the first to see exclusive footage, new merchandise, and get to hear from the actors and crew that were contributing to the latest episode of our very beloved "galaxy far, far away..." The fact we all were cold and wet, sometimes shivering, is what connects the Celebration fans to each other. Even though Shmi told little Ani don't look back, those at Celebration do so with fond memories from the times we shared.
- Jon "Blasty" Leopold, Great Lakes 501st Garrison PR Officer
Photos submitted by Jon "Blasty" Leopold, Dustin Roberts and Deanna Bock
