Treklanta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Treklanta
Status	Active
Genre	Star Trek
Location(s)	Atlanta, Georgia
Country	United States
Inaugurated	2011
Attendance	257 (2011), 240 (2012), 181 (2013), 246 (2014), 298 (2015), 300 (2016), 320 (2017)
Organized by	Eric L. Watts, Chairman USS Republic NCC-1371
Website	treklanta.org

Treklanta is a super fun yearly event for everyone who loves Star Trek! It takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. This convention is packed with exciting activities for fans. You can enjoy special events, cool games, and watch amazing Star Trek shows and movies made by other fans. Treklanta also hosts the yearly Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant and the Bjo Awards Ceremony, which celebrates the best fan-made Star Trek films.

How Treklanta Started

Treklanta, which was first called "TrekTrax Atlanta," was created by Eric L. Watts. He used to organize Star Trek events at a huge convention called Dragon*Con for many years. When he stopped doing that in 2009, his friends from a Star Trek fan club in Atlanta, the USS Republic, told him he should start a new convention just for Star Trek fans. Atlanta hadn't had a convention only for Star Trek since 1993!

So, in 2010, Watts and his friends began planning. Soon after, they announced TrekTrax Atlanta! In October 2014, the name changed to Treklanta. Watts said the new name was "easier to pronounce, easier to spell and hopefully easier to remember." He also felt it better showed what the convention was all about.

For the first three years (2011-2013), the convention was only about Star Trek. In 2014, they added other cool science fiction shows like Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and Babylon 5. But in 2017, Treklanta went back to focusing only on Star Trek.

Past Treklanta Conventions

The First Treklanta: TrekTrax Atlanta 2011

The very first convention happened from February 18 to 20, 2011. Special Guests Included:

• Tim Russ, who played Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager
• Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh, who played the Klingon sisters Lursa and B'Etor in Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Ken Feinberg, an actor from Star Trek: Enterprise
• Writers and creators like Larry Nemecek
• People from the Starship Farragut fan-made Star Trek show

Fun Activities: The convention had lots to do! There were talks about Star Trek, a special area for Klingon fans, and another for costumes and makeup. Fans could play games for 24 hours, meet the celebrity guests, and buy cool things. There was also a costume contest, live music, and "Klingon Karaoke." About 257 people attended this first event.

The Second Treklanta: TrekTrax Atlanta 2012

This convention took place from April 20 to 22, 2012. The Klingon Assault Group International even called it the "National Klingon Konvention"! Special Guests Included:

• David Orange, known as the "Sleepy Klingon" in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• Morgan Gendel, who wrote famous Star Trek episodes like "The Inner Light"
• Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen, an expert on the Klingon language
• People from fan-made shows like Starship Farragut and Project: Potemkin
• The il Troubadore Klingon Music Project and "nerd rock bands"

Fun Activities: There were talks and events about Star Trek, a special focus on Klingons, and sessions on costumes. Fun events included a "Trekkies Got Talent!" show, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, live music, and Klingon Karaoke. About 240 people attended.

The Third Treklanta: TrekTrax Atlanta 2013

Held from April 19 to 21, 2013, this convention had a "Star Trek Fan Film Festival." It also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the USS Republic's fan club. Special Guests Included:

• Manu Intiraymi, who played Icheb on Star Trek: Voyager
• Keith R. A. DeCandido, a popular Star Trek author
• Ken Feinberg and Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen returned
• Many people involved in Star Trek fan-made films from series like Project: Potemkin and Starship Farragut

Fun Activities: Besides showing many fan films, there were talks on Star Trek, Klingons, and costumes. There was also a gaming room, a talent show, live music, Klingon Karaoke, a costume contest, and the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant. About 181 people attended.

The Fourth Treklanta: TrekTrax Atlanta 2014

This event, from April 25 to 27, 2014, grew to include other awesome sci-fi like Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. Special Guests Included:

• Felix Silla, known for playing Twiki in Buck Rogers
• Arlene Martel, who played T'Pring in the original Star Trek episode "Amok Time"
• Jeremy Roberts, who was in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• Keith R. A. DeCandido, the sci-fi author
• People from fan film productions like Project: Potemkin and Star Trek: Phase II

Fun Activities: There were separate programs for Star Trek and other space shows. A Star Trek Fan Film Festival showed 62 fan films! There were also puppet shows, a Star Wars musical, a costume contest, and the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant. About 246 people attended.

The Fifth Treklanta: Treklanta 2015

This was the first convention with the new name, Treklanta! It was held from April 24 to 26, 2015. It continued to celebrate Star Trek, Star Wars, and other sci-fi shows. Special Guests Included:

• Sean Kenney, who played Captain Christopher Pike in the original Star Trek
• Jason Carter, known as Marcus Cole from Babylon 5
• Anne Lockhart, who played Lieutenant Sheba in the original Battlestar Galactica
• Keith R. A. DeCandido, author
• Alec Peters, creator of the Prelude to Axanar fan film

Fun Activities: The convention had a Star Trek Fan Film Festival with 26 films, a gaming room, and an artists alley. Special events included a puppet show, a costume contest, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, and the very first Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards (now called the Bjo Awards). About 298 people attended.

The Sixth Treklanta: Treklanta 2016

Held from April 15 to 17, 2016, this convention featured Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular sci-fi. Special Guests Included:

• Carel Struycken, known as Mr. Homn in Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Tracee Lee Cocco, who played Lieutenant Jae in Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Jack Stauffer, Lieutenant Bojay from the original Battlestar Galactica
• John and Bjo Trimble, famous fans who helped save the original Star Trek series

Fun Activities: There was a Star Trek Fan Film Festival showing 30 films, a gaming room, and an artists alley. Fans could get autographs and photos with guests. Special events included a puppet show, a costume contest, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, and the second Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards. Exactly 300 people attended.

The Seventh Treklanta: Treklanta 2017

From April 28 to 30, 2017, Treklanta returned to focusing only on Star Trek. Main Guests Included:

• David Gerrold, writer of the famous Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"
• Gary Graham, known as Ambassador Soval in Star Trek: Enterprise
• J. G. Hertzler, who played General Martok in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• James Horan and Scott L. Schwartz, who both played multiple characters in various Star Trek series

Fun Activities: The convention had an independent Star Trek Fan Film Festival with 33 films, a gaming room, and a dealers room. Special events included a puppet show, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, and the third Independent Star Trek Fan Film Awards. Exactly 320 people attended.

The Eighth Treklanta: Treklanta 2018

This convention was held from May 25 to 27, 2018. It focused on Star Trek and also hosted a big meeting for the Klingon Assault Group. Main Guests Included:

• Conrad Coates, Admiral Terral from Star Trek: Discovery
• Gary Graham, Ambassador Soval from Star Trek: Enterprise
• Robert Duncan McNeill, Lt. Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager
• Robert O'Reilly, who played the Klingon leader Gowron

Fun Activities: There were three sets of programs: two for Star Trek and one for the Klingon meeting. The Fan Film Festival showed 58 films! There was also gaming, an artists alley, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, and the fourth Bjo Awards Ceremony.

The Ninth Treklanta: Treklanta 2019

Held from May 24 to 26, 2019, this convention was all about Star Trek and also hosted a big meeting for STARFLEET International (a large Star Trek fan club). Main Guests Included:

• Aron Eisenberg, who played Nog in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• Bill Blair, who played many different aliens in Star Trek shows
• Nichole McAuley, who played aliens in Star Trek: Voyager
• David R. George III, Star Trek author

Fun Activities: There were programs for Star Trek fans and for the STARFLEET meeting. The Fan Film Festival showed 42 films. There was also gaming, an artists alley, the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, and the fifth Bjo Awards Ceremony.

Treklanta in Recent Years

Treklanta on the Holodeck (2021)

Because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Treklanta held a special one-day online event called Treklanta on the Holodeck on August 7, 2021. It was free to join online. Online Events Included:

• Opening and Closing Ceremonies
• Talks with leaders from Star Trek fan clubs
• A presentation on how Star Trek: The Animated Series influenced later shows
• Q&A sessions with writer Keith R. A. DeCandido and actor J. G. Hertzler
• A new Star Trek puppet show
• A panel with many Star Trek fan film creators

What's Next for Treklanta?

As of when this was written, a date for the next in-person Treklanta convention hasn't been announced. The organizers want to make sure everyone – staff, guests, and attendees – is healthy and safe. They will only hold another in-person convention when the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a major concern and it's safe for people to gather.