50 years of Star Trek and more
By Randy Beaudette
Characters of the universe gathered descended on the Crowne Plaza and Convention Center this past weekend for the 2016 StarFest. This year’s theme is 50 years of Star Trek and featured characters from the original Star Trek series along with Star Wars, Star Gate and several other space themed sci-fi movies and television series.
The experience started before entering the convention building. Movie Cars of Colorado exhibited several cars. The Scooby Doo “Mystery Van”, Jurassic Park Jeep, Starsky and Hutch Grand Torino, modern version of the Ghost Busters Ectomobile, and many others.
Entering the convention center, there were several large rooms with different venues. The atrium, provided and area where tickets were sold and a gathering place for the various characters. Along with the Trekies, there were Steampunkers, Anthropomorphic characters, video game icons and even several comic book characters that we all can recognize.
On display in the Model and Robocon room were several scale models of the NCC1701 Enterprise from the original as well as the Next Generation series. The Lost in Space Robot along with the evil Dr. Smith occupied a large portion of this area.
Next we move on to the Art Show gallery where several original printed works and sculptured that centered around the space and Steampunk theme were on display. Some of the prints were amazing. From the Close Encounters of a Third Kind mothership over Devil’s Tower to the portraits the captured the stage life of Star Trek’s Spock played by the late Leonard Nemoy.
In the Dealer’ Den, StarFest fans can purchase T-shirts, toys, light sabers, masks, costumes, and steam gear. If you spot it, it was on sale. Some prices ranged from reasonable to outrageous. Revenue generation and economic stimulation was the main theme in this area.
Lunch at a nearby Kentucky Chicken joint was also an inter-galactic experience. Klingons were eating with Starfleet personnel. Princess Lia was eating with some earthling, and Yoda was dining with a woman in a wedding dress.
Back at the StarFest Activities Room several original actors that starred in sci-fi movies and on television were eager to meet fans. Michael Dorn, “Worf” in Star Trek Next Generation, Tahmoh Penikett, “Helo” on Battlestar Galactica, and Nina Visitor, “Major/Colonel Kira Nerys,” on Star Trek Deep Space Nine, chatted and signed autographs.