Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017: The Events

Have you spent the past year perfecting your Ahsoka Tano makeup? Or have you instead put this time into making certain your Kylo Ren lightsaber can ::spoiler alert::? Either way, Star Wars costumers both veteran and amateur are invited to join in an exciting Cosplay Contest on stage at Star Wars Celebration Orlando! It is more than just a competition – it’s a celebration of all things cosplay with fans who want to share their craft with the world.

The cosplay contest will be take place on Saturday, April 15 in the mid-afternoon or later. Participation in the cosplay contest is free, but all participants must have a valid entry badge for that day of Celebration in order to compete. The exact time of the Cosplay Competition will be announced later.

Join us for what is sure to be a fun-filled competition celebrating the talent, skill and determination of the best cosplayers around.

After more than a decade working together to create the best Star Wars diorama experience for the fans, D’iorio and the Core Crew of 6 are more like family now. D’iorio and company return to Celebration Orlando with a new challenge: Recreating the iconic ILM Death Star surface used to film the New Hope climax VFX shots from the film. For their 15th year at Celebration, it also introduces a new partnership with Mattel that will allow builders to race (and win) Hot Wheels Car Ships down the 32 foot long, 6 lane Death Star Trench Run. It will truly be a unique and memorable fan experience!

From its humble beginnings at Celebration II in 2002, who would have guessed a LIVE build of Mos Eisley started one of the longest Celebration features. 2017 marks the 15th anniversary of Frank D’iorio’s Diorama Workshop and Star Wars Celebration partnership.

There’s a history of successful Speed Dating at Star Wars Celebrations, with long-term couples, engagements and marriages now among the alumni.

Advanced online registration is required (walk-ups will be based on availability). Costumes welcome. Must be 18 years of age or older. Must have a valid Star Wars Celebration Orlando badge for the day you sign-up for speed dating. The location for speed dating will be provided closer to the show.

The location for speed dating will be: Room W306 A

Nerd Nite Speed Dating: Star Wars Celebration Orlando Edition
The smart-yet-fun folks of Nerd Nite are bringing Speed Dating back to Star Wars Celebration! Register online for one of our special Celebration sessions of 15 three-minute dates so you’ll no longer have to look for love in a galaxy far far away. Choose from one of six hetero speed dating sessions or one for LGBT. If the Rebels can blow up the Death Star in 11 minutes, let’s see if you can make a love connection in only three.

R2-D2 Builders at Celebration Orlando
The ever-inventive R2-D2 Builders’ Club is returning to Celebration, and somehow they have managed to outdo even their spectacular efforts of the past. Look for them every day of the show in the Celebration Experience Exhibit Hall (Booth 3145) and in their Droid Builders’ Room (W205).

Keep your eyes peeled for pop-up droid parades, and opportunities for magical one-on-one encounters with lone droids rolling around, looking for new friends. Finally, check out the Droid Builders’ presentations on the stages, where you can learn more about their history, the different types of droids, and how to get started building your own rolling friend.

Room 205
Droid Builders’ Room
Explore the magic of Astromech droids with the combined efforts of the R2-D2 Builders’ Club and the BB-8 Builders’ Club. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with over 100 droids on display. Photo opportunities abound while you stroll through this amazing gallery. Every hour, on the hour, you can enjoy an interactive sound and light show guaranteed to amaze your favorite youngling.

Hall B, Booth 3145
Droid Derby Classic, or, the Franklin-Bossk Classic MSE Derby
Want to see some droid destruction? Yeah you do, and we do too! Dedicated to our favorite fan, the DroidBuilders present a unique and exciting opportunity to race the provided MSE droids in the best rock ‘em sock ‘em smash derby this side of the galaxy. Do you have what it takes to defeat that random stranger? Running every two hours, don’t miss your chance to win and take home the gold-like medal!

Also in Booth 3145, you can try your hand piloting an inflatable droid, or watch as master builders compete in the R2-D2 Builders’ Droid Races. Stop by for a daily schedule, check the mobile app, or check the Star Wars Celebration Schedule grids (link) for details

And In the Panel Rooms…

Thursday, April 13
Star Wars Fan Stage, W308
8-9pm
Droid Building 101
Presented by the R2-D2 Builders Club. An introduction to building R2-D2 including a history of the club and what to expect when building a droid. Talk will include an overview to the various materials required to build a droid along with tools required and answers to the top questions asked by potential builders.

Friday
Star Wars Fan Stage, W308
4:30-5:30pm
Extreme Droid Building
A discussion, demonstrations, and Q&A with some of the most innovative droid builders who have pushed the boundaries on those accomplishments. Discussing how they got into building, their inspirations and motivations, process and techniques involved. And of course, demonstrations of their mind-blowing droids!

Saturday
Star Wars University, W300
2-3pm
History of Droid Building
From the R2 builder’s club origins in 1999 through the creation of the BB-8 Builders club the incredible growth of fan made droids through the years.

Star Wars Fan Stage, W308
3-4pm
Of Mice and Medical: The Other Droids of Star Wars
A discussion of the various droids used throughout the Star Wars Universe. A quick overview of the five classes of droids and a breakdown of droid types. All hail Skippy the Jedi Droid…