Home to the world's largest Star Wars collection
Event coverage from yesterday, today & tomorrow – The fanfare through our eyes.
Join Rancho Obi-Wan for a party, a convention, an exhibit, or an outing. Photos and videos from past Star Wars Celebrations, Rancho Obi-Wan Galas and more. As we prepare for future events we will bring you along on the journey. As we find photos from events past we’ll be sure to share.
The first Silicon Valley Comic Con (now SiliCon with Adam Savage) was March 18–20, 2016 in San Jose, California. Rancho Obi-Wan had an exhibit of almost 300 items featuring electronics and computers, favorite toys and, as always, fan art.
Read more of the story and browse the photos below.
Continue reading “Happenings: Silicon Valley Comic Con 2016”
In 2010, the first version of Rancho Obi-Wan closed down for renovations and expansion. It had been in existence—with constant changes and additions—since 1999 when the first former chicken barn on the property had been converted into a very nice warehouse for my burgeoning Star Wars collection. The changes and enlargement, which would take over a year to accomplish, would be quite dramatic. And to commemorate the rebirth and reopening of Rancho Obi-Wan and its conversion into a nonprofit museum with scheduled tours, something grand was called for.
Continue reading “Happenings: The Grand-Reopening of Rancho Obi-Wan 2011”
Even the smallest of comic conventions, hobby expos, toy shows, and fan fests can make for a fun family outing. I remember a small convention called Fan Days that took place in the Plano Event Center in Texas. That convention grew to become the massive Dallas Comic Con that eventually merged with Canada’s Fan Expo. Petaluma’s Hobby Expo has a focus on modeling, but also includes toys, other hobbies, and celebrities.
In 2013 George Lucas donated a parcel of land he owned in downtown San Anselmo, California, to a community foundation and paid to raze the commercial buildings on the lot. The Foundation constructed a lovely pocket park named Imagination Park on the grounds and Lucas, a longtime San Anselmo resident, donated two bronze statues to sit on a park fountain, one of Yoda and the other of Indiana Jones.
I visited Poland in 2011 to attend a fan convention, “Fantasy Days: Between Science & Fiction.” I was the guest of the editors and publishers of a short-lived Official Polish Star Wars Magazine.
On May the Fourth, 2013, the Rancho crew packed up to do a special exhibit at Super7, a pop culture collectibles and clothing shop in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury neighborhood.
Steve talks about the origins of Rancho Obi-Wan’s “Rebel Command Table” which serves as our presentation centerpiece.
All of us at Rancho Obi-Wan have been thinking of our Gala supporters this weekend. It would have been our 8th annual Gala fundraiser on Saturday and we missed seeing you all here. We look forward to celebrating with you next year. Thank you all, take care of yourselves, see you soon.
The first C2E2—the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo—took place April 16 to 18, 2010 at Chicago’s main convention center, McCormick Place. Steve Sansweet was there representing Lucasfilm and gave a presentation on what was up at the company, including the continuing adventures of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Star Wars Celebration III took place from April 21 to 24, 2005 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, the site of Celebration II. The guest of honor was George Lucas himself, making his first fan convention appearance since the Star Wars 10th Anniversary con in 1987. Despite the date, there was a snowstorm overnight and the thousands of fans waiting in line outside to catch one of the three Lucas Q&A panels were ushered into the center to stay dry and warm.
Continue reading “Happenings: Star Wars Celebration III, Indianapolis, IN”