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Droids Just Wanna Have Fun
date posted: Dec 30, 2006 1:37 AM  |  updated: Jan 18, 2007 1:53 PM
Blogging the Rose Parade
By now it's apparent that the 501st successfully invaded Pasadena and we all had one heck of an adventure for the 2007 Rose Parade.

From Dec. 27 until Jan 2. I was in Pasadena reporting for starwars.com on this VIP blog and I have to say it was a whirlwind of activity. I was on the field with the 501st members as they learned to properly march in unison under the watchful and experienced eyes of the volunteer drill sargents. The Grambling University marching band practiced their renditions of some of the most beloved and memorable music from the Star Wars saga. Not to mention the presence of George Lucas which further encouraged us all to raise this whole experience to yet another level.

Throughout the whole process I blogged hoping to give everyone who couldn't make it hto the parade a glimpse into the behind the scenes events, stories and images.

Of course, stay tuned to starwars.com in-depth feature articles about the fans who made this event extra special.

Also please keep returning to this blog for an ongoing list of media outlets that have covered this event and continue to share our excitement for the Star Wars Spectacular in the Rose Parade.

MY BLOG COVERAGE:
Rose Parade: Arrival of the Troops
Rose Parade: Marching 101
Rose Parade: I Met The Stooge!

STARWARS.COM FEATURES
Decorating a Galaxy: Star Wars Spectacular
Star Wars Spectacular Action Figure Float
Back-Up Vader Speaks
Behind the Armor: 501st Professionals
Bantha Tracks -- Rose Parade Edition
Storming Pasadena: The Rose Parade Recap
More Snapshots from Pasadena
Parade Kicks Off 30 Years of Star Wars
Heads or Tails: Outfitting the Rose Parade
Star Wars Collectible Rose Parade Pins
Ewok This Way: Mikey Post
Right Left, Right Left: Training Troopers
Queens for a Day
George Lucas Announced as Rose Parade Grand Marshal
Star Wars Spectacular (Homing Beacon Newsletter)

VIDEO/AUDIO:
Indy 'Star Wars' Fanatics To March In Rose Bowl Parade -- Bloodfin Garrison profile (Indy Channel)
HGTV Parade Coverage
'Star Wars' Celebrated in the Tournament of Roses Parade (NPR -- Morning Edition AUDIO )
George Lucas Addresses The Troops (TheForce.net)

FAN COVERAGE
Star Wars Float Queen Kelsey Mccala VIP Star Wars Blog
Vader's Fist: 501st Legion
Rebelscum.com Rose Parade Coverage
Stormtroopers crash the 2007 Pasadena Rose Parade
Pre-Parade with Lucas
Rose Parade Floats

PHOTOS:
My Flickr Photo Blog of images from marching practice, float decorating, dinners with the garrisons and more.
The 501st Legion "Vader's Fist" Flickr Photo Blog
German Garrison photo gallery
Yahoo! News AP Gallery
Rebelscum - Parade Photo Gallery

PHOTO CAPTION FUN:
Trooper Bowl

MEDIA COVERAGE
GENERAL:
Star Wars salute (The Age)
Rose Parade shows its galactic appeal (Los Angeles Times)
Fans Line Rose Parade Route For 'Star Wars' Tribute (Fox 11 Reno)
Rose Parade Focuses on 'Star Wars' (SF Gate)
Rose Parade features 'Star Wars' tribute (Yahoo! News)
Rose Parade pays tribute to Star Wars (USA Today)
Star Wars a Favorite in 118th Rose Parade (KCBS)
`Stormtroopers' ready to roll into Pasadena's Rose Parade (San Jose Mercury News)
Star Wars Coming Up Roses (Sci-Fi Wire)
George Lucas handles Rose Parade duties (AP/Yahoo News)
Lucas Embraces Rose Parade Marshal Role (ABC News)
'Star Wars' fanatics prepare for parade (Pasadena Star News)
Taking Rose Parade by stormtrooper (Los Angeles Times)
'Star Wars' a record entry for Rose (Marin Independent Journal)
The Subject Was Roses...and Stormtroopers (E! Online)
Floats recognize "Our Good Nature" at Rose Parade (El Paso Times)
Rose Parade to feature `Star Wars' gang (Pasadena Star News)

INDIVIDUAL TROOPERS:
Marching Orders - Tina Wilson (The Florida Times-Union)
The Force is With Them -- pair of Hawaii storm troopers will take their "Star Wars" act to the Rose Parade on Monday (Honolulu Star Bulletin)
Hawaii on the march at Rose Parade (Honolulu Star Bulletin)
A great day for a parade -- even if those Stormtrooper outfits make you boil inside (San Francisco Chronicle)
Adrenaline, good breakfast secrets to finishing parade (Daily Bulletin)
Knights in white plastic (The State)
Omaha Storm Troopers To March In Rose Parade (Marin Independent Journal)
'Star Wars' fan to storm through Rose Parade (OC Register)
Star Wars fan part of Rose Parade (The Republican)
Hallsville 'Star Wars' fan marches in Rose Bowl Parade (Longview News-Journal)
Star Wars-krijgers nemen hoge vlucht (nieuwsblad.be)
Idaho Star Wars fan chosen to march in the Rose Parade (Deseret Morning News)
'Star Wars' troopers to march in Pasadena (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Indiana 'Star Wars' Fanatics To March In Rose Bowl Parade (The Indy Channel)
Movie buffs to represent the state in Rose Parade (Anchorage Daily News)
Force with Star Wars duo (The Calgary Sun)
Taking Rose Parade by stormtrooper (LA Times)
The Force will be with him as he marches in Rose Bowl Parade (Gannett Wisconsin News)
On The Town - Scott Will (St. Petersburg Times)
'Star Wars' fan excited to march -- Two Rivers man primed for role in Rose Parade (postcrescent.com)
'Star Wars' fan to storm through Rose Parade - Michael Senna (ocregister.com)
Roidt among legion of supporters (Manitowoc Herald Times)
The Imperial March -- Darren Blum (Rochester City News)
Greece man to march in Roses parade -- Darren Blum (Rochester Democrat)
'Star Wars' fan to march in parade -- Kenneth Doherty (The Californian)
Foothills man storms Pasadena -- Ross Beatie (Auburn Journal)
State `Star Wars' Fans To March (Hartford Courant)
In a state kinda far away -- Carolina Garrison (Greensboro News-Record)
Star Wars fans to march in Tournament of Roses -- Charles Corrente (South Coast Today)
CT 'Star Wars' Fans To March at Tournament of Roses Parade (WCBS)
Coming up Roses - Bob Gouveia (Boston.com)
Star Wars X-Wing Pilot -- Barry Finnigan (KPVI)


Feel free to email me any links to news coverage you find and I'll post it in this list! ;)

Michelle1968
M68- Star Wars Kid at Heart
date Posted: Dec 30, 2006 9:09 AM
Awesome Bonnie! Thanks so much! I'm really looking forward to this! :)
  Wampa_Jedi
Jedi Wampa's Playhouse
date Posted: Dec 30, 2006 9:26 AM
I just found something I hadn't seen (mostly because I've been focused on the SW side of things)...

The theme for the parade this year is "Our Good Nature"



I know what the 501st is, and the good they do in communities, but 200 clone/stormtroopers representing "Our Good Nature"......


Now that's funny.... ;)
Daniel Logan
Daniel Logan Blog
date Posted: Dec 30, 2006 10:27 AM
Hi Bonnie,

Hope you have a good time down here in Southern California. The weather is just right for the parade. This is going to be a great way to kick of the new year, and the 30th year of Star Wars.

See you soon!
Daniel

PS. This is my 1st comment posted on a blog... and it was all for you bonniegrrl!
The Stooge
Star Wars Joke-A-Day
date Posted: Dec 30, 2006 11:46 PM
LA is richer for havin' y'all here! :) Can't wait for the parade!
JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
date Posted: Jan 01, 2007 7:12 AM
I love a parade, and this one is going to be the best!! :D

MTFBWY :)
  NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 2:42 AM
Michaela Pereira's use of "Chewie Chewbacca" made me giggle.

Cool that the jet pack guy from Oklahoma's Centennial float entry came up to talk to Lucas.
"hey, Mr. Lucas, I'm a big fan...did you see my Jango Fett flight around Colorado Blvd?" hehe

I LOVE that the eight flag girls leading the Grambling State Band were dressed as Twi'leks...they were great! So was the band.

Neat to see Howard Kazanjian (producer of ROTJ) at the end of the parade talking about the float entries (he was a judge) and letting everyone know that he and the parade organizers agreed that he wouldn't participate in the judging of the Star Wars floats.

  NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 2:42 AM
Michaela Pereira's use of "Chewie Chewbacca" made me giggle.

Cool that the jet pack guy from Oklahoma's Centennial float entry came up to talk to Lucas.
"hey, Mr. Lucas, I'm a big fan...did you see my Jango Fett flight around Colorado Blvd?" hehe

I LOVE that the eight flag girls leading the Grambling State Band were dressed as Twi'leks...they were great! So was the band.

Neat to see Howard Kazanjian (producer of ROTJ) at the end of the parade talking about the float entries (he was a judge) and letting everyone know that he and the parade organizers agreed that he wouldn't participate in the judging of the Star Wars floats.

  NerfHerdersAnonymous
Life, the Star Wars Universe and Everything
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 2:44 AM
sorry, clicked twice accidentally...feel free to delete. :P Dang champagne-soaked fingers.
SD_GreyJedi
Grey Jedi's Journal
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:08 PM
Watching the parade live from the stands was AWESOME! Cheering on my fellow 501st and Rebel Legion members was priceless. :)

I just saw Bonnie's photos of the behind-the-scenes and seeing Mary and Steve in Imperial Officer uniforms was great. Seeing the familiar faces working hard to make it a fantastic event was even more fun.

I loved the photo of all the patches too; especially since the Sunrider patch made it in to the picture. ;)

Grey Jedi
Rebel Legion Sunrider Base CO
fett2201980
Fettspawn
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 5:44 PM
Saw it HGTV with out any commercials. They showed more footage than the other channels, and everyone looked great. Thanks to the 501st for ringing in the new year with a bang. You guys looked great out there!
I was very impressed with the floats, and dressing up the members of Grambling's marching band as Imperial Officers was nice touch.
MissPadme
Miss Padme's Naboo Love Nest
date Posted: Jan 02, 2007 8:49 PM
I may as well tell somebody official that the SW Spectacular was amazing! Although I wasn't there in person (sob!), I watched it a couple of times thanks to back-to-back broadcasts on Los Angeles's KTLA.

A job well done!
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