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TrekFest brings thousands to Riverside
RIVERSIDE — TrekFest 37 drew a crowd from near and far Saturday, as guests braved early morning downpours for the annual celebration of all things Star Trek in a city claiming the title of Capt. James T. Kirk’s future birthplace.
“It feels different, it’s more like a hometown festival instead of a convention,” said Jordan Hirsch, who traveled from St. Paul, Minnesota for the celebration. “This is my first time, it’s awesome, I’m having a great time.”
That middle ground — between convention and small town block party — is what sets the weekend apart from so many other events like it. Guest-of-honor actors J.G. Hertzler and Robert O'Reilly, who played Klingons Gen. Martok and Chancellor Gowron, respectively, in several franchise series, said it stood out from the numerous Trek events they attend worldwide.
“It’s gone on for many, many years, it’s a real hometown feeling,” O’Reilly said. “It’s real Americana, it’s wonderful. It’s just Iowa … and this year has been extraordinary.”
Hertzler said that matched the essence of Star Trek, which boasts its own small-town roots.
“The spirit of this town is incredible,” he said. “They’re celebrating a real small town guy. Gene Roddenberry was a cop in El Paso and a bomber pilot in World War II, Just a regular guy who had an idea for Star Trek.”
TrekFest 37 Chair Travis Riggan said early Saturday afternoon that he was already impressed with the turnout.
“We actually had to get more beer in today as well, because we sold out of three last night that we didn’t even come close to selling out of last year,” he said. “The parade, I would say we had close to 800-1,000 people there, I’d say pretty much 80% of those people have migrated down to the park here, and … if we maintain that, we’re going to be really close to that 3,000-4,000 mark.”
The weekend’s crowds are a boon to the city of just over 1,000 residents.
“What we’re looking for is producing the best that we can for our town celebration,” Riggan said. “We want to celebrate Riverside, we want to bring people in to highlight Riverside. We might not be super, super Trekkie, but for one weekend out of the year, we have to unite to bring in the waves of people that come.”
Riggan said the weather slowed some momentum early in the day, but didn’t disrupt the planned events.
“We moved the beer tent up as well as retail, people aren’t standing in water,” he said. “Getting the U.S.S. Riverside into the park, and letting people take pictures with it, that’s also really special.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
From left, Klingons Gen. Martok (J.G. Hertzler) and Chancellor Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) offer candy and shouts of "Qapla'" to those watching the TrekFest 37 parade. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Aaron Talmon (right) proves that Klingon warriors fear nothing, even the rain. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
From left, Georgina Aldridge, Jadzia Connoridge, and Trillian Connorridge adjust their (intentionally) smoking starship driven by Michael Connor in the home stretch of the parade. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
TrekFest 37 volunteers and Chairperson Travis Riggan (right) show off a quilt made of TrekFest shirts throughout the years, put up for auction as part of Riverside's history in its 150-year celebration the same weekend. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Riverside History Center Director Mike Meinders tows a runabout in the TrekFest parade. (Photo courtesy of Glen McPhail)
A rare Bat'leth guitar is up for auction in Hall Park at TrekFest 37, presented by Volunteer Jennifer Duling. (Photo courtesy of Lee Navin)
From left, Chancellor Gowron, Jordan Hirsch, Kristina Smith, and Gen. Martok pose for a photo. (Photo submitted)
Young volunteers at the Riverside Fire Department throw candy to the parade crowds at TrekFest 37. (Photo courtesy of Glen McPhail)
Trek Enthusiasts took turns getting their photos taken in front of the U.S.S. Riverside, which organizers managed to set up in Hall Park despite the weather. From left, Marc Gartin and Charles Libby. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
