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u/Majestic-Draw7491

First Timer's Guide to Star Wars Celebration | LA '2027. From a 1st timer for other 1st timers.
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First Timer's Guide to Star Wars Celebration | LA '2027. From a 1st timer for other 1st timers.

I've never been to Star Wars Celebration and LA '27 will be my first for myself, my wife and son. We are excited. I've lived in Northern California for 50+ years and have been to So Cal a number of times but not intimately enough to know the Good/Bad areas around Celebration or things to see besides the obvious like Disneyland so I decided to start a list for 1st-timers like myself.

I've used a combination of the topics that I see in Facebook groups as well as some additives from ChatGPT and wanted to see 4 groupings: Events and Activities at Celebration, Places to Visit outside Celebration, Fan Groups and Fan Meet Ups and Places to Eat. Note I'd love to hear additions to this list so we can make our experience collectively awesome.

Events & Activities at the Celebration

  • Major Lucasfilm panels & announcements
  • 50th Anniversary Star Wars celebrations
  • Actor autographs & photo ops (will be purchasable closer to the start of Celebration)
  • Fan panels & lore discussions (likely published prior to the start of Celebration). Note: I've been advised to plan around a Fan panel / day and try not to overprogram.
  • Celebration-exclusive merchandise shopping. Exclusives will likely be snatched up early so if you want an exclusive or even official Celebration merch, you may choose to get these early to get your item and in your size/quanity.
  • Artist Alley & collectible art
  • Cosplay showcases & costume contests
  • Live podcast/theater stages
  • Evening fan parties & trivia nights
  • Sabacc tournaments & themed meetups
  • Fan - Swag trading events (pins, stickers, patches, custom cards)
  • Running of the Wilrow Hoods & parody fan marches
  • Hotel lobby fan gatherings & after-hours socializing

Places to Visit Outside of Celebration

  • Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
  • TCL Chinese Theatre (original 1977 premiere site)
  • El Capitan Theatre
  • Disneyland Park
    • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
  • Downtown LA & Hollywood sightseeing
  • Griffith Observatory
  • Santa Monica Pier
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame

Here are the major Star Wars-related stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that fans commonly visit:

Star Wars Figure Location Notes
Mark Hamill 6834 Hollywood Blvd In front of El Capitan Theatre
Carrie Fisher 6840 Hollywood Blvd Dedicated on May the 4th, 2023
Harrison Ford 6801 Hollywood Blvd Very close to Hamill/Fisher cluster
George Lucas 6841 Hollywood Blvd Near the others in the core Star Wars area
Ewan McGregor 6840 Hollywood Blvd area Placed near Carrie Fisher’s star
Billy Dee Williams 7007 Hollywood Blvd Lando Calrissian
James Earl Jones 7000 Hollywood Blvd Voice of Darth Vader
Frank Oz 6915 Hollywood Blvd Yoda performer/voice
Alec Guinness 1559 Vine St Original Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman 6801 Hollywood Blvd Padmé Amidala

Best “Star Wars Cluster” to Visit

You can see:

  • Mark Hamill
  • Carrie Fisher
  • George Lucas
  • Harrison Ford
  • Ewan McGregor nearby

…all within a short walking distance (around 6800–6841 Hollywood Blvd)

Fan Groups & Fan-Driven Meetups

Fan Organizations

  • 501st Legion
  • Rebel Legion
  • Mandalorian Mercs
  • Droid builders & prop communities
  • Virtual Cantina Network fan gatherings
  • Saberguild.org

Fan Activities

  • Massive cosplay meetups & group photos
  • Character-specific gatherings (Jedi, Sith, Mandalorians, clones)
  • Group costume marches on convention floor
  • Charity appearances/events
  • Fan mixers & social meetups
  • Cantina nights & themed after-parties
  • Batuu bounding & Galaxy’s Edge fan nights
  • Lightsaber meetups & nighttime photo groups
  • Podcast community gatherings
  • Trading sessions in hotel lobbies
  • Cosplay repair meetups
  • Late-night lore discussions & fan networking

SWAG (Fan made giveaways to trade with other fans).

Likely to find some ideas on Etsy. Would encourage creativity and theme. Think 50th anniversary, think '77, think LA, etc. I found SWAG Trackers | THE SWAG CREW. They have a ton of photos that SWAG traders have made at past Celebrations. They range from buttons, to patches, pins, 3d Printed and laser cut items to handmade items. Some great inspiration there. They also have had a meet up in the past. Check out their FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/swcswagcrew

Restaurants / Places to Eat (with links)

u/Majestic-Draw7491 — 3 days ago