The Official STAR TREK Convention Beams Back to Las Vegas with a Galaxy Full of Stars

Klingons, Andorians and Vulcans were joined by humans as fans from around the world beamed into Las Vegas on July 31-August 3 for the world’s largest Star Trek Convention (Pictured: William Shatner – Photo credit: IraKuzmaPhotos.wordpress.com).

This decade-long tradition drew over 15,000 attendees to The Rio All-Suites Hotel.

Photo credit: IraKuzmaPhotos.wordpress.com.

The convention was highlighted by appearances by four Star Trek Captains including superstar William Shatner (classic Star Trek’s Captain Kirk).
Over 100 invited celebrities included from the latest Star Trek feature film, Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy), Peter Weller (Admiral Marcus) and Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike); from classic Star Trek Walter Koenig (Chekov), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand), Harlan Ellison, who was listed in Encyclopedia Britannica as the Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate (and writer of Classic Star Trek’s “The City on the Edge of Forever”); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Colm Meaney (Miles O’Brien); from Star Trek: Next Generation, Brent Spiner (Data) and many more.

Photo credit: IraKuzmaPhotos.wordpress.com.

In addition to celebrities, the non-stop theatrical show included behind-the-scenes presentations, costume and trivia contests, no minimum bid auctions of unique collectibles and one-of-a-kind items, and special fan-made music videos. The exhibit hall boasted major companies and distributors selling and displaying Star Trek and sci-fi collectibles from across the nebula.

Photo credit: IraKuzmaPhotos.wordpress.com.

Along with night time Star Trek themed parties, a Saturday Night event included a Salute to the Music of Star Trek, performed by fifty members of the famed Nevada Pops under the direction of Musical Director and Conductor, Richard McGee.

Photo credit: IraKuzmaPhotos.wordpress.com.

Saturday was Cosplay Focus Day with over 2,000 attendees expected to be in full Trek regalia. Emmy Award-winning costume designer Robert Blackman (Star Trek: Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise), Academy Award-winner and nine-time Emmy Award-winner Michael Westmore, the legendary makeup designer and artist (Star Trek: Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise) and Star Trek make-up maestro John Paladin were scheduled to appear.