For roughly the past month it’s been the same:

• “We can rethink that floorplan after the holidays.”
• “I can have the answers you need after the holidays.”
• “We’ll send those links after the holidays.”
• “After the holidays we’ll be ready to revisit this.”
• “The document will be completed for you after the holidays.”
• Etc. etc. etc. “after the holidays.”

Honestly, it’s a good tradition that people in the world disconnect and focus on something other than work for a few weeks each winter. Family, friends, travel, avoiding cliffs, a few good books and movies — whatever it is that refuels us, it’s probably healthy for humankind.

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After meeting with Star Wars fans in London, Germany, and Belgium over the past two weeks, I’m once again awed and inspired by the creativity (and organization!) of the fan community.

In prepping for Celebration Europe II, I was also able to spend quality time in the Essen convention center (Messe Essen) with some colleagues from Lucasfilm and our counterparts at ReedPOP. We considered possible floor plans, went over the audio/visual and other technical details, and eyed up some spaces for possible evening events.

This solid planning, plus the fact that tickets will go on sale very soon at www.starwarscelebration.eu, makes me feel like we are well underway to an exciting event next July.

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Photo (from left-to-right): - Mark Mulcaster (Rebel Legion), Suzi Sterling (Rebel Legion), Stephen Smith (UK Garrison), Mary Franklin (Lucasfilm), Gary Hailes (UK Garrison), Steve Buckley (UK Garrison), James Burns (Jedi News) and Oliver Steeples (R2 Builders Club)

The 30th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi is a landmark too big to go un-celebrated, and if there’s one thing Star Wars fans know how to do better than anyone, it’s how to celebrate and party.

But five long years have passed since the summer of 2007, which saw the dual hit of Celebration IV in May and Celebration Europe, held at the Excel in London over the weekend of July 13-15. Bringing the saga to the country where the majority of the first four movies were filmed, UK and European fans were treated to appearances by Mark Hamill, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and a plethora of galactic stars, as well as the premiere of Fanboys, Charles Ross and the One Man Star Wars Trilogy, the Palitoy 2007 Archive, talks, signings, parties, and much, much more. There was even the infamous Jedi versus Sith battle on the bridge!
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