The twenty-fifth annual Trek Fest is going on now (June 25-26) in the tiny town of Riverside, Iowa. I grew up attending Trek Fest (my first was 23 years ago, when I was just five years old), since my mom is a serious sci-fi fan and we lived only minutes from Riverside. I have fond childhood memories of vendors hawking tribbles, Vulcan ears and buckets of beer. This year the event organizers have added the “Kirk’s Stomping Grounds Rodeo,” in addition to the traditional demolition derby and tractor (full size and “garden”) pull. I’ve now introduced my daughter to Trek Fest (she’s three), but it was kind of disappointing. I was slightly ashamed of the Iowa crowd as George Takei waved from a parade float, saying “Hello, hi, hi there.” My mom, sister and I were the only ones squealing.
Nichelle Nichols, George Takei and various Riverside notables (I'm guessing).
Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, people in Star Trek uniforms.
Riverside fan club members. That is not a Star Fleet regulation belt, dude in the blue tunic.
Notice here: cigarette, Coors Light, aviator sunglasses, bemused Star Fleet officer, female Klingon cleavage.
My parents have several Star Trek x-mas ornaments, but no Riker collectors plate. I've missed out.
Walter Koenig at the judging table of the costume contest.
Mullet, mustache, mirrored glasses. And a vulcan.
George Takei, sitting at the judges' table during the Trek Fest costume contest.
Storm troopers and ... two spocks.
Storm troopers, a jedi woman, an officer from the Death Star ... and two spocks.
Captain Kirk, a Return of the Jedi storm trooper, and a woman with a huge Star Fleet insignia on her shirt, who's holding a bottle of local Iowa wine.
"Spotty, beam me home!"
Klingon bird of prey
The Enterprise
A horta-car (props to my mom for knowing what this was supposed to be!). There was also a person in a horta costume, who won the costume contest.
A group of strom troopers and jawas in the Trek Fest parade. Note the Casey's General Store in the background.
If you are sad to have missed Trek Fest in Riverside, you can always mailorder some very reasonably priced Kirk Dirt (taken from the location of where James T. Kirk will be born in 200+ years) from the Trek Fest Museum.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Um, factual error in the post. That is not a “Return of the Jedi stormtrooper,” but a scout trooper. Duh. ::snorts and pushes up glasses fixed with tape::
There is a picture of the Horta costume on the gazette’s photo blog
http://crgazettephoto.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/trekfest/
Greetings,
I am the Commanding Officer of the 501st’s Central Garrison (The Stormtroopers), and I just wanted to thank you for the mention and say what a great Honor it was for us to be a part of what was the Best Trek Fest I’ve ever attended! I was every bit as honored to get to meet George, Nichelle and Walter as I have been to meet any of the Star Wars Celebs, and they were so incredibly warm and receptive to our participation, I could not have been more pleased!
~TK-9772 Chris Andrews
CO – Central Garrison
The 501st Legion
Ps. I don’t know who took the photos but I would LOVE to get full-res copies of us and any of the Celebs! tk9772@gmail.com
I thought trooping the parade in full armor was hot, until I put on the Horta. I almost died in that costume.
the people in my section of the parade route gave george,walter, and michelle a rousing cheer and george responded to my call of Baba Booey by saying Oh Myyyyy for those in the know
See Nichelle Nichols in her bold new film “The Torturer”.
Coming OCT 09
http://thetorturer.com
@Casey Slack, Slacker…haha.
Hey! Nice photoblog covering the event!
Image 7: My wife is in the red shirt, our friend as Riker on vacation in sunglasses, and I was Spock. We had a great time and look forward to next year!
Scott / Zegmorien
@eric, That’s awesome. LOL. Very glad there was enthusiasm in your part of the route. Ha! (And for those not in the know, it’s a reference to Takei’s appearances (and world-famous soundbites) on the Howard Stern show…)
@Casey Slack, It was impressive! And congrats on winning the contest.
@Chris Andrews, Email coming your way shortly… :) My daughter, who has been a serious Star Wars fan since she was two, gravitated towards the stormtroopers and Princess Leia all day. She’s still hanging onto a 501st tattoo she got at a Roughriders game.
The picture of the two guys carrying the Riverside banner are part of STARFLEET, The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. and not part of the city of Riverside’s fan club. I am a former member of the USS Riverside NCC-1660. The guy in the red (Command) uniform is John Schulte and the guy in the blue (Sciences) uniform is John’s son, Trent Schulte. Trent is also the Second Officer.
Chapters of STARFLEET are organized as ships, thus the ship name and NCC number. I’m the CO of a chapter called USS Vre’kasht NCC-33187. We celebrated our first anniversary on Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Also, the picture of the ship you refer to as the Enterprise is actually the USS Riverside NCC-1818, not to be confused with the USS Riverside NCC-1660.
@TPlon, Thank you for providing that correct info. I will admit I know next to nothing about the official organizations behind Trek Fest (which makes me well-qualified to write about it, eh?). Thanks for reading, though!
It’s great to hear that those stormtroopers had such a good time. Too bad they were completely out of place. Why couldn’t we get Paul Atreides leading a bunch of Fremen? Wasn’t the Last Starfighter available? Or maybe the robot from Lost in Space? Come ON, Trekkies, maintain your integrity.
Despite my living SO close to Riverside, I never had the opportunity to attend a Trek Fest until last year. Lots of other events happen to fall on the same weekend. It’s pick and choose unfortunately.
I enjoy supporting this event, both as Star Trek fun and promotion of the hometown and area which is, of course, important. And most DEFINITELY NOT flat like in the recent movie.
Looking forward to more Star Trek personalities (personally hoping that Connor Trinneer comes sometime or perhaps Jonathan Frakes or Michael Dorn… Maybe even Terry Farrell who is a Cedar Rapids hometown girl!) and perhaps more for this festival (I know, like they need more! LOL)
Despite, Angry Sam, yes… the Star Wars people were a bit out of the loop being there but, just not nice of us to shun them. The best really is to keep promoting at Sci-Fi conventions all over the nation and world putting out a “call to arms” for Klingons, Romulans, Starfleet, and all other Star Trek cosplay groups out there to get their bums over to Riverside! But again, we cannot push out non-Star Trek groups. Face it, no matter WHAT Sci-Fi event you attend, Star Wars folks WILL show up at Star Trek events, Trek folks and Star Wars people WILL show up at Stargate events, and all the American Sci-Fi groups will show up at Brit Sci-Fi events like Dr. Who. Ye CANNOT hold back the Sci-Fi masses. Talk about Clash of the Titans! ;)
~Lady B
Sci-Fi is the best, i love sci-fi movies, books and stuffs like that. I am a man of science that is why i love it ”-
Hello Trekkies,
I am actor David Orange who, in Star Trek VI–the Undiscovered Country portrayed the humorous “Sleepy Klingon.”
I am also a professional writer with magazine and screenplay credits.
Recently I had published my first science fiction thriller novel THE POWDER MERCHANT.
It has already garnered 4 excellent professional reviews.
If you as a reader would like to “go where no one has gone before,” you can purchase this original thriller at:
AMAZON KINDLE EBOOKS $1.99
BARNES AND NOBLE NOOK EBOOKS $1.99
Thank you for your support,
David Orange
The Sleepy Klingon
I have a Return of the Jedi portfolio by Ralph McQuarrie which is in excellent condition and contains a page describing the 20 paintings included. I was wondering if this has any type of value to a collector?
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