While we started going to fan conventions to collect autographs, the part of the con I truly love is panels. Our autograph collection is large, so I don’t have to spend as much time in the autograph rooms as I used to. Panels is now where I spend my time. In particular, I really love going to Star Wars panels.

When I attend a Star Wars panel (or any panel for that matter), I want to learn something new. I don’t care for unstructured or debate panels. My experience with those it that it often becomes a roast of something people don’t like instead of why people like something. Negative criticism is easy; constructive criticism is harder; genuine praise is difficult.

So here are a few (but not all) of the Star Wars panels I would like to attend:

Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys Screening & Panel

Feb 22nd at 4:00 PM until 5:45 PM – Pensacola Little Theatre Courtroom

This is actually a documentary. The doc focuses on the making of Star Wars toys. Toy collecting is still a large business. The filmmaker Brian Stillman and toy designer Jim Swearingen will hold a QA after.

Writing Star Wars

Feb 24th at 12:15 PM until 1:00 PM Saenger Theatre 2nd Floor Room B

Two of the sagas best novelists will be at Pensacon. Timothy Zahn has been writing Star Wars for a long time both in the extended universe and in the new canon. His new books on his creation, Thrawn, are excellent and wildly popular. Claudia Gray, a New Orleans resident, is a prolific writer. Her Star Wars books on Princess Leia are extremely popular. I have yet to read anything negative about her other Star Wars novel, Lost Stars. Having them on a panel together is a Star Wars lovers dream (and a great preview of what we might see at Celebration).

Star Wars Q&A

Feb 24th at 1:30 PM until 2:15 PM Saenger Theatre Main Stage

Actors, droid opperators, and (possibly) bounty hunters from the saga will be at this panel. Taylor Gray does a great job answering questions at a panel (and when we saw him when he couldn’t answer a lot of things). I’m really looking forward to hearing about the experiences of other people such as R2D2 handler Lee Towersey.

In addition to panels, Star Wars table top gaming will go on in the Grand Hotel 2nd Floor lobby. If you ever wanted to check out Star Wars Destiny, there will be demos and tournments going on there. We have played it a few times, so we highly recommend you check it out!

Pensacon 2019 will take place from Friday, February 22 to Sunday, February 24, 2019. The primary convention venue, the Pensacola Bay Center, is where ticketing, celebrity autographs and photo ops, and the vendor floor will be located.

However, Pensacon takes over the entire downtown Pensacola area and uses the Pensacola Grand Hotel, the Saenger Theatre, the Rex Theatre, and the Pensacola Little Theatre.

Unfortunately, VIP passes are sold out, but there are still 3-Day passes and single day passes available. You can purchase them here!

About The Author

Kurt Hargis

administrator

I’m a husband to a woman who is nerdier than I am, and a father to a near perfect child. I am one of the main authors for this website, plus I handle most of the technical aspects (web design, editing podcasts, and videos, etc.) During the day, I’m a Computer Science and African American Studies Teacher. Most of my free time I’m listening to music or podcasts and watching soccer. I love Star Wars and Star Trek equally. I’m a horrible gamer yet I game.
You can reach me at nolanerdcouple@gmail.com

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