ATLANTA – The 33rd annual Dragon Con, held August 29 – September 2 on Labor Day weekend, attracted over 85,000 fans this year for Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy, sci-fi and gaming convention. The event includes ‘tracks’ for every kind of fan, as well as gives back to the community through supporting an official charity each year, and hosts a blood drive with LifeSouth.
The American Heart Association’s Georgia affiliate was selected as the 2019 benefiting charity, receiving more than $110,000 from a variety of fundraisers held at Dragon Con, including a charity auction and individual track fundraisers. Contributing toward that total, the Star Wars track’s Chess Jawa (known for competition chess) played almost 250 chess games with con-goers for donations, raising over $2,100 and receiving a matching gift for the total as well!
Fans come every year from around the world to join in the revelry at Dragon Con, including a list of distinguished celebrity guests who host panels, sign autographs, and participate in photo opportunities. This year a few of the featured guests included: Zachary Levi (Shazam!), David Tennant (Doctor Who, Jessica Jones, Good Omens), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca in The Force Awakens, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Last Jedi), return guests George Takei (Star Trek), and Ralph Macchio (Karate Kid), among many others.
The Star Wars Report’s Riley Blanton was selected as a moderator to interview guests Joonas Suotamo and puppeteer Brian Herring, discussing their roles in the Star Wars films and behind-the-scenes experiences that fans may not have known about.
Among the other Star Wars track panels were:
- Fan speculation for The Mandalorian, (coming to Disney+ on November 12),
- Speculation for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,
- A fan panel on Solo: A Star Wars Story (including Christy and Michael Morris as panelists),
- What to expect at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at the Disney parks,
- W Star Wars authors panel with Claudia Gray (Leia: Princess of Alderaan, Lost Stars) and E.K. Johnston (Ahsoka, Queen’s Shadow),
- Star Wars costume contest,
- And the annual Star Wars trivia contest, won this year by non other than Alex Damon of YouTube show, Star Wars Explained!
Also, Let it be known that Michael is a huge fan of Lando.
Dragon Con is always filled with amazing encounters with cosplayers.
New to Dragon Con this year was Director, Dr. Annalise Ophelian, screening a sample of her upcoming series, Looking for Leia. The docu-series explores how women and non-binary fans experience their Star Wars fandom, and shows detailed interviews with these fans as they build droids, translate Star Wars: A New Hope into Navajo, and write fan fiction. Christy Morris sat down with Dr. Ophelian and Art Director, Alyssa, and discussed what inspired Looking for Leia and when we’ll see the full series released. You’ll be able to check out the interview on our friends Fanthatracks’ site here!
Of course, the can’t-miss nighttime event is always the Last Party on Alderaan, an epic Star Wars-themed dance party which this year featured DJ Nemesis returning once again. If you’re looking for dancing and costume-watching, this is the place to be on Saturday night of the con. It usually has a long line to get in the door, so arrive early if you plan to attend in 2020.
The con wrapped up with a panel with author and Dragon Award winner, Timothy Zahn, interviewed by our friend, Nancy of the Tosche Station podcast. The panel reviewed Zahn’s books: Thrawn, Thrawn Alliances, and Thrawn Treason, and had a packed room of fans anxious to hear more. Congrats Zahn on your first Dragon Award!
To find out more about Dragon Con, which will be held September 3 – 7, 2020 in Atlanta, visit www.dragoncon.org. For details on the Star Wars fan track, connect with track Director, Brandy Roatsey by emailing swatdc@dragoncon.org, or reaching out via Twitter to @SWatDC.
Written by: Christy Morris @bespinbelle
