TrekFest makes voyage for 35th year in Riverside

RIVERSIDE - The streets of Riverside were packed with Star Trek fans, children in search of candy and members of the Riverside community alike as the 35th Annual TrekFest made its voyage down the streets of Riverside Saturday.

Jeff Showalter, a volunteer and parade announcer for the festival, said there have been years in the past where 30,000 people have come to Riverside for the annual event. This year a couple hundred people braved the heat and came out to enjoy the day.

In 1985, Riverside City Council member Steve Miller wrote to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry to request Riverside be named to official birthplace of Capt. James Kirk. In a book Roddenberry wrote that is set in the 23rd century, he stated Kirk was born in a small town in Iowa.

Roddenberry agreed to allow Riverside to be Kirk's hometown and on March 25, 1985, the Riverside City Council unanimously voted to declare a spot behind what was formerly the town's barbershop as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.

For the past 35 years, people like Pam McLaughlin, from Chicago, and Mary Chichanowski, from Minnesota, have been attending. The pair first heard about the event in an article published by a Minnesota newspaper and have only missed one event since.

McLaughlin said she enjoys coming to TrekFest every year because she likes to be around 'like-minded people” and those who understand why she loves the show so much.

Chichanowski agreed saying, 'It's like a second home.”

Mary Flint, of Texas, was in town to visit her sister when she found out about TrekFest and decided she had to stop in. A big fan of the show, Flint said she was enjoying her first experience at TrekFest because of the laid-back atmosphere and chance to see something new.

'It's casual and there's such a good mix here all because we love Star Trek,” she said.