General
George Lucas is appearing at Star Wars Celebration V on Saturday, August 14 on the Celebration Stage (Chapin Theater) inside the Orange County Convention Center. Being interviewed by The Daily Show's Jon Stewart, this live interview with George is guaranteed to be the crown jewel of the convention and, as such, has been simply and succinctly dubbed "The Main Event". The Main Event begins at 11 AM on Saturday, August 14. The event is free with admission to Star Wars Celebration V -- no additional tickets are required -- but the event is first come, first served.
George Lucas and Jon Stewart are appearing for the fans, so our priority is to make it so as many fans -- ticketed attendees of Celebration V -- as possible are able to see The Main Event as it happens.
If you want to attend The Main Event, familiarize yourself with all the information below.
The Stages
The Main Event runs from 11 AM to 12 Noon (or a little later) on Saturday, August 14 in the Celebration Stage (Chapin Theater) in the Orange County Convention Center. The Celebration Stage seats approximately 2,600. As there are many more than 2,600 fans at SWCV who'll wish to attend, The Main Event is being broadcast live at the following locations:
- Digital Stage (Valencia A) - 1,600 Seats
- Behind-The-Scenes Stage (W414 ABCD) - 1,200 Seats
- Fan Stage (W311 ABCD) - 800 Seats
- Collectors' Stage ( W303 ABC) - 350 Seats
- Fan Movie Screening Room (W308 ABCD) - 700 Seats
- Classroom & Lecture Hall (W300) - 180 Seats
In total, 7,430 attendees will be able to watch The Main Event at SWCV. If you are interested in being one of them -- to attend The Main Event either in the Celebration Stage or in one of its satellite theaters -- you DO NOT need an additional ticket, but you DO NEED a free wristband. Wristbands are given out first come, first served on Saturday morning starting at 6 AM.
Unless you are a Jedi Knight or Master badge holder….
Jedi Knight And Jedi Master VIPs
Jedi Knight and Jedi Master VIPs are the only attendees who DO NOT need a wristband to attend The Main Event. Part of the Jedi Knight and Jedi Master ticket package is reserved seating inside the Celebration Stage. As The Main Event takes place on the Celebration Stage, all a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master needs to do is show their badge to be allowed in. Jedi Knights and Masters have a reserved section of seating and should show their badge to ushers at the Chapin Theater to be guided to their seat.
General Attendees
This dedicated line will form in front of the OCCC and will move in once the Special Needs line is inside. Once wristbands to the Celebration Stage have all been claimed, wristbands to the Digital Stage will be distributed. Once those are gone, Behind-The-Scenes wristbands will be distributed. Then, Fan Stage, Fan Movie Screening Room, Collectors' Stage, and finally the Classroom, until all are gone. Fans receiving these wristbands should queue in each theater's individual lines inside the Queue Hall -- Celebration Stage Line, Digital Stage Line, etc. These lines will move at 10 AM when the show opens. (Fans do not need to wait in these lines, but they will move before wristbanded attendees not waiting in line are allowed in.)
Special Needs (Mobility or Hearing Impaired)
This dedicated line will form in front of the OCCC and will move in at 6 AM prior to General Attendees. The Celebration Stage has a fixed number of wheelchair-accessible seats, and wristbands for these will be distributed first. Once these are filled, wheelchair-bound attendees will be provided Digital Stage wristbands. Similarly, all ASL seats will be filled first in the Celebration Stage. (Attendees in the Special Needs line may be accompanied by one partner/companion/helper as well as children.) Please note that attendees who use scooters for mobility assistance but can walk must wait in the General Attendee line. There will be Scooter Parking outside the theaters, and wheelchair-accessible seating must go to attendees bound to wheelchairs.
Hyperspace Members
Hyperspace members wishing to attend The Main Event must adhere to the above General Attendee instructions. A separate Hyperspace line will exist every day of the show to provide priority entrance to the show floor. Note, however, waiting in the Hyperspace line does not guarantee seating to The Main Event. Wristbands will start being distributed at 6 AM at the entrance to the Queue Hall. Hyperspace members wishing to attend The Main Event are encouraged to arrive as close to 6 AM as possible as tickets will be distributed first come, first served to all attendees — general attendees, Hyperspace members, etc. Hyperspace members will still queue in the Hyperspace line for the Main Event, but must show up at 6:00 AM on Saturday if they want to be among the first to receive a wristband for the event.
Press
Press wishing to attend The Main Event must adhere to the above General Attendee instructions. Wristbands will start being distributed at 6 AM at the entrance to the Queue Hall. Members of the press wishing to attend The Main Event are encouraged to arrive as close to 6 AM as possible as tickets will be distributed first come, first served to all attendees — general attendees, members of the press, etc. There will not be a separate line for press for the Main Event.
Volunteers
Should you wish to be a volunteer at The Main Event, please contact SWCV's Volunteer Coordinator. A select number of volunteers will be needed to staff The Main Event—this may not guarantee a seat during the live or simulcasted event. Additionally, volunteers who are not staffing The Main Event cannot be guaranteed admission and must queue up at 6:00 AM.
Saturday-Only Badge Holders
Should you be a fan who ordered a Saturday-Only Badge online but did not receive your badge in the mail, you will need to bring your printed confirmation to Celebration to obtain your physical badge. As registration will not be open at 6 AM, Saturday-Only Badge Holders may use their printed confirmation email to obtain a wristband to The Main Event. Note, though, that after receiving your wristband, you will still need to visit registration, as you cannot enter the show without a physical badge.
Exhibitors, Partners, And Guests
Should you be an exhibitor, sponsor, or invited guest wishing to attend The Main Event, please reach out to your Star Wars Celebration V contact prior to the convention. Not all exhibitor, partner, and guest seating requests can be fulfilled, and no special seating requests can be accepted on-site.
One Wristband Per Attendee
One wristband will be given out per attendee beginning at 6 AM on Saturday, August 14. We are unable to provide additional wristbands to attendees who wish to provide them later to family or friends who have not yet arrived. There are no exceptions.
Cameras
Still photography of The Main Event is allowed; however, attendees must remain in their seats to take photos. Audio recording and/or video recording is prohibited.
Late Seating
The Main Event begins at 11 AM. All attendees must take their seats by 10:45 AM. Should an attendee -- Jedi Knight or Master, Hyperspace Member, General Attendee, etc. -- arrive after 10:55 AM, their seats will be given away. Wristbands do not guarantee late seating!
Overnight
The doors to the Orange County Convention Center open at 6 AM on Saturday, August 14. We understand that camping out and waiting in line is part of the Star Wars fandom experience. Please, though, use your best judgment when deciding when you wish to arrive. No attendee will be permitted inside the convention center before 6 AM on the 14th or to wait inside overnight. For fans intending to arrive before 6 AM and wait outside, we strongly advise checking with weather reports, wearing proper clothing, and staying hydrated. Please, also, be aware of gators.
Questions
For any unanswered questions on The Main Event, please reach out to the contacts listed on the starwarscelebration.com Contact Us page.