Las Vegas Star Trek Convention Preview + Schedule of Events

Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention Convention kicks off in Las Vegas this Thursday and runs through through Sunday at the Rio Suites Hotel & Casino, celebrating the franchise’s 45th anniversary.

Although “Gold Weekend Passes”, “Captain’s Chair Packages” and “Preferred Weekend Packages” are sold out, those wishing to attend may still purchase “Single Day Reserved Seating” for $70 for Thursday or Friday and $80 for Saturday or Sunday, or “General Admission” for either the entire weekend or single days ($149 and $35 for Thursday or Friday and $40 for Saturday or Sunday, respectively). Tickets will be on sale at the door.

As this is a high volume event, it is advised that guests who have yet to purchase their tickets arrive early to ensure entry.

Headlining the event will be infamous William Shatner, the thespian Sir Patrick Stewart and the erudite Leonard Nimoy, who will be making his final Las Vegas appearance this year. They will be accompanied by a veritable armada of fellow celebrity guests, including Brent Spiner (TNG’s Data), Kate Mulgrew (Voyager’s Captain Janeway), George Takei (Sulu from TOS), John Cho (Sulu from 2009’s film), Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand from TOS), David Warner (The Final Frontier’s St. John Talbot and The Undiscovered Country’s Chancellor Gorkon), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura of TOS), Walter Koenig (Chekov of TOS), Terry Farrell (DS9’s Jadzia Dax), Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr., Jonathan Frakes (TNG’s Commander Riker), Dominic Keating (Enterprise’s Malcolm Reed), Gwynyth Walsh and Barbara March (B’etor and Lursa of the Duras sisters), Connor Trinneer (Enterprise’s Trip), J.G. Hertzler (DS9’s Martok), Robert O’Reilly (TNG’s and DS9’s Gowron), Rene Auberjonois (DS9’s Odo), Nana Visitor (DS9’s Major Kira), and many more.

Scheduled events include:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11th

Gene & Majel Roddenberry Main Theatre

1:05 p.m. Voyager’s Garrett Wang panel
1:55 p.m. The “Return to the Sixties” panel with Lee Meriweather, Yvonne Craig and Clint Howard
3:00 p.m. TNG panel with Eric Menyuk and Olivia d’Abo
4:25 p.m. The “Return to Enterprise” panel with Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer
5:05 p.m. The “Classic Trek” panel with Beverly Washburn, Jack Donner and Michael Forrest

DeForest Kelley Secondary Theatre

2:45 p.m. Larry Nemecek’s “1986: The Lost Anniversary” presentation
3:30 p.m. David Gerrold’s Animated Trek panel
6:00 p.m. Star Trek Geek Girls panel with Mary Czerwinski, Brandi T, Alicia Ivy, Kayla Iacovino and Casey McKinnon

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12th

Gene & Majel Roddenberry Main Theatre

9:15 a.m. The “DS9 Aliens” Panel with Jeffrey Combs, Vaughn Armstrong, Casey Biggs, Max Grodenchik and Armin Shimerman
10:35 a.m. Walter Koenig panel
12:05 p.m. Rene Auberjonois and Nana Visitor panel
12:40 p.m. Rod Roddenberry panel
2:45 p.m. Rene Auberjonois and Nana Visitor’s “Cross Our Hearts” performance
3:50 p.m. Jonathan Frakes panel
4:30 p.m. The “Star Trek Rat Pack” performance, featuring Max Grodenchik, Vaughn Armstrong, Jeffrey Combs, Casey Biggs and Armin Shimerman

DeForest Kelley Secondary Theatre

11:20 a.m. TOS Supporting Stars panel with Louise Sorel, Charles Dierkop and Tania Lemani
2:30 p.m. TOS blooper reels
2:50 p.m. Larry Nemecek;s Annual VEGAS TREK Trivia Contest
3:30 p.m. John Paladin’s Character Makeup workshop
4:30 p.m. A Journey Through The Universe with the Hubble Space Telescope with Inge Heyer
5:15 p.m. The “Captain Smackdown” debate hosted by Anthony Pascale
6:15 p.m. Ronald Held’s “The Nature of Reality” presentation

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13th

Gene & Majel Roddenberry Main Theatre

9:30 a.m. Star Trek The Next Generation Panel with Denise Crosby, Suzie Plakson and John de Lancie
10:30 a.m. The “Klingon Summit” with B’Etor, Lursa, Gowron and Martok
11:55 a.m. Brent Spiner panel
1:25 p.m. Star Trek: The Universe of Merchandising and Consumer Products Update
2:30 p.m. Leonard Nimoy in what is being toted as his final Las Vegas convention appearance
6:15 p.m. Jeffrey Combs’ one-man performance “Nevermore… An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe”

DeForest Kelley Secondary Theatre

9:00 a.m. “Glue Guns and Phasers” children’s workshop with Mary Czerwinski and Brandi Clark
12:20 p.m. “Underwater Frontiers” discussion with Rod Roddenberry
3:00 p.m. Star Trek Costume World Record Attempt
3:50 p.m. David Gerrold presents his Star Trek New Voyages episode “Blood and Fire”
5:00 p.m. The “Classic Stars of Classic Star Trek” panel with Joseph Ruskin, Robert Brown, Roger Perry and Mariette Hartley
6:35 p.m. “Alien Worlds, Real and Imagined” discussion with Inge Heyer
7:35 p.m. Star Trek Costume Parade

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14th

Gene & Majel Roddenberry Main Theatre

9:50 a.m. Kate Mulgrew panel
10:20 a.m. William Shatner along with Patrick Stewart and Kate Mulgrew
10:30 William Shatner solo panel
11:00 a.m. William Shatner and Patrick Stewart panel
11:30 a.m. Patrick Stewart solo panel
12:20 p.m. Grace Lee Whitney panel
12:50 p.m. James Darren panel
3:55 p.m. The “Sulu Summit” with George Takei and John Cho
4:40 p.m. Nichelle Nichols panel
5:20 p.m. David Warner panel

DeForest Kelley Secondary Theatre

9:35 a.m. Robin Curtis panel
2:30 p.m. Daniel Stewart panel
4:40 p.m. The Next Star Trek TV series discussion hosted by Anthony Pascale

A full schedule of events and photo ops/autograph sessions and their prices are available at Creation’s website.

If you cannot personally attend the event, never fear. As with recent cons, panels may be viewed live via streaming on StarTrek.com for $6.99 each.

Also, be sure not to miss the TrekNews “Spockstar” party hosted along with DVD Geeks and Larry Nemecek’s Trekland on Thursday from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. at McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon.

Look for more news and coverage as it occurs from your source for everything Trek, TrekNews.net.