It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years since Captain James T. Kirk muttered the infamous words, "To go where no man has gone before."
But Star Trek turns 50 this year and the team behind New York Comic Con has decided to drum up a special celebration for East Coast Star Trek fans by hosting a special 50th anniversary event that will feature guests, special exhibits and more for those attending.
Star Trek: Mission New York takes place Sept. 2-4 at the Javits Center in New York. Expect details to emerge soon on the convention's official website, which currently displays a clock counting down the days, hours and minutes until the grand celebration.
The convention's organizers are ReedPOP, which handles the successful New York Comic Con every year.
"Star Trek: Mission New York will be a completely unique fan event unlike anything seen before," said Lance Fensterman, global senior vice president of ReedPOP, in a press statement as reported by io9. "[It'll give] them the chance to go beyond panels and autograph signings, and immerse themselves in the Star Trek universe."
With a new Star Trek series headed to CBS next year, that network plans on lending its support to the convention, as well.
"There has never been a better time to be a Star Trek fan than right now with the 50th anniversary celebration on tap," said Liz Kalodner, executive vice president and general manager of CBS Consumer Products, in the press release. "Star Trek: Mission New York will celebrate everything going on in the Star Trek universe, and we couldn't be more thrilled to bring it back to the birthplace of the original Star Trek convention and do so with a partner like ReedPOP."
Tickets will probably go quickly for the event, so fans should keep an eye on the Star Trek: Mission New York website for more information. For those interested in attending, it's probably a good idea to grab tickets and hotel rooms as soon as they become available. Although the convention hasn't listed any guests or events yet, it's likely that future details will impress Star Trek fans.
The very first Star Trek convention also took place in New York in 1972. Guests in attendance included series creator Gene Roddenberry and author Isaac Asimov.
There are several events marking the show's 50th anniversary, including a convention Aug. 3-7 in Las Vegas and a touring orchestra with accompanying film clips that is scheduled to appear in 100 cities between January and April.
