For the third year running GateWorld's editors are packing up the bags to head to one of the biggest Stargate conventions in the world! Creation Entertainment is hosting the official Stargate SG-1 / Stargate Atlantis event in Vancouver, March 24 to 26. Vancouver is arguably the best place for a Stargate convention, since that's where the shows film. That means more guest stars, more participation from writers, directors, and producers, an authentic props gallery from the show ... and even tours of the set for a limited few.

Here's our convention photo gallery from last year.

Guests at this year's event include Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Joe Flanigan, Beau Bridges, Gary Jones, Alex Zahara, JR Bourne, Cliff Simon, Dan Payne, James Bamford, Martin Gero, N. John Smith, William Christensen ... and the animatronic Thor puppet!

This week is like the Super Bowl for us. For toy enthusiasts, the biggest event is Toy Fair. For the video game sites I frequent, the E3 expo makes for the year's biggest news. Next week's trip to Vancouver is all of that and more for GateWorld. Our whole year has come to spin around this trip.

The convention and the fun we plan to have there -- watching stage panels, conducting our own trivia contest, interviewing guests, and cruising the dealer's room -- is just the tip of the iceburg. By the grace of Sony and the producers of Stargate, we hope to spend a day or two on the sets of Stargate. I've been there twice before and it is truly an amazing experience. We usually get to see a bit of filming in between grabbing as many interviews as we possibly can, whether it's in an actor's trailer or grabbing a seat in the Atlantis conference room.

Last year, between the set visit and the convention we came home with around 15 separate interviews and lots of news on the upcoming season. It was so much that it took us a good nine months to get them all published (something we've taken steps to rectify this year!). We'll also be covering the day-to-day of the convention itself.

Last, but most definitely not least, GateWorld is hosting a dinner for our forum family! Last year we had about 25 fans from the forum spend the evening together at a local restaurant, with special guests Rainbow Sun Francks, Martin Gero, Bruce Woloshyn, and Courtenay J. Stevens popping by. It was so much fun and such a hit that we decided to do it again ... and our head count is currently at nearly 80 attendees.

So I'm excited for the big week ahead. Stay tuned ... Internet access permitting, I hope to get some live convention blogging in, and also let you in on how the rest of the week goes as it unfolds.

4 Comments:

 Scarym1 wrote:

9:35 PM     LINK

I just like to say that I am torn between being quite envious and happy that you are going to Vancouver. It is really a beautiful city and the chance to meet all the great people who post here on GW is the best thing about attending.

I can't wait to see all the pics and hear all the news.

Have a great trip. : )

 tsaxlady wrote:

4:31 PM     LINK

I enjoyed the GW dinner last year and I'm looking forward to it again this year. It was one of the highlights of the con.

 TheWarrior wrote:

6:21 AM     LINK

Hope you have a great time Darren & everyone else who is going.

Looking forward to reading all the latest developments :D

 Tame :-) wrote:

2:52 PM     LINK

Definitely feeling very envious of you all...but also just as excited for you all as well. Last year was such a wonderful time that I can only hope this year is just as grand if not greater!

Hope you all have a blast and becareful with that window dancing you never know who is watching (wink)

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