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Boldly Going to Garland: Celebrating 60 Years of Star Trek

Date: Sept 12, 2026
Location(s): 
Plaza Theatre - 972-205-2780
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Garland Cultural Arts presents Boldly Going to Garland: Celebrating 60 Years of Star Trek

An Intergalactic Adventure from the It Came From Texas Film Festival

Sixty years ago, a five-year mission launched television audiences into the final frontier—and the journey has never truly ended.

Join Garland Cultural Arts and the It Came From Texas Film Festival for Boldly Going to Garland, a one-day celebration honoring six decades of Star Trek. Whether you're a lifelong Trekkie (or Trekker, if you prefer), a casual fan, or introducing a new generation to the Federation, this event promises a day of exploration, imagination, and fun.

Enjoy classic episode and feature film screenings, trivia competitions, costume contests, photo opportunities, engaging panel discussions, vendors, and more as we celebrate the stories, characters, and optimistic vision that have inspired fans around the world for 60 years.

And because every great Texas festival deserves a Lone Star connection, we're proud to note that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas, making this galactic gathering a perfect fit for the It Came From Texas Film Festival.

So dust off your Starfleet uniform, polish your communicator, and join us as we Boldly go to Garland!

Saturday, September 12, 2026 — All day, all ranks welcome!



SCHEDULE

9:30 AM - DOORS OPEN

10:00 AM - Welcome & Proclamation

The event kicks off with an intergalactic, multi-city proclamation from Mayor Pro Tem Christopher Ott, celebrating 60 years of Star Trek, with River City, Iowa (future birthplace of Captain Kirk), Ticonderoga, New York (location of the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour), and the City of Garland!

10:15 AM - Trivia #1

Kirk? Picard? Janeway? Sisko? Spock? Worf? Data? Seven of Nine?
How well do you REALLY know your Trek? Volunteer to hop on stage and flaunt your knowledge for your chance to win a prize!

10:30 AM - Panel - Dr. Christopher Gonzalez - Star Trek's Vision of Diversity

Dr. Christopher González, whose scholarship explores Latinx performers in science fiction, will provide new perspectives on representation throughout the Star Trek universe.

11:00 AM - Episode Screening - Space Seed (1967) - Original Series
A derelict spaceship, bearing the survivors of a past civilization held in suspended animation, drifts into the path of the USS Enterprise.

11:51 AM - Post Screening Questions

12:06 PM - Trivia #2
Volunteer to hop on stage and flaunt your knowledge for your chance to win a prize!

2:15 PM - Trivia #3
Volunteer to hop on stage and flaunt your knowledge for your chance to win a prize!

2:30 PM - Panel - Dr. Christopher Gonzalez
Dr. Christopher González, whose scholarship explores Latinx performers in science fiction, will provide new perspectives on representation throughout the Star Trek universe

2:45 PM - Film Screening - Wrath of Khan (1982)
The plot features Admiral James T. Kirk and the crew of the starship USS Enterprise facing off against the genetically engineered tyrant Khan Noonien Singh. When Khan escapes from a 15-year exile to exact revenge on Kirk, the crew of the Enterprise must stop him from acquiring a powerful terraforming device named Genesis.

4:41 PM - Post Screening Questions

4:56 PM - Trivia #4
Volunteer to hop on stage and flaunt your knowledge for your chance to win a prize!

5:11 PM - Astronomer talk + Q&A
University of Texas at Arlington Planetarium Director Levent Gurdemir and Planetarium Coordinator McKenna Dowd will join us to discuss the cosmos and space phenomena as they relate to the Star Trek universe.


5:56 PM - Episode Screening - Voyager: Blink of an Eye (2000)
Captain Janeway and the crew orbit a primitive planet that begins to evolve at an astonishing rate, leveling its newfound weaponry at Voyager.

8:00 PM - Costume Contest
How would you suit up for a mission aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise?
Would you wear a sleek Starfleet uniform? Or a fierce Klingon warrior outfit? Or do you have your own stellar style?
Show off your best Star Trek-inspired outfit for a chance to win a prize!

8:15 PM - Panel - Barney Burman
Academy Award-winning makeup artist Barney Burman will take audiences behind the scenes and into his creations of the characters’ looks of J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, STAR TREK, sharing stories from the production that earned the franchise its first—and still only—Academy Award.

8:45 PM - Film Screening - Star Trek 2009
Aboard the USS Enterprise, the most sophisticated starship ever built, a novice crew embarks on its maiden voyage. Their path takes them on a collision course with Nero, a Romulan commander whose mission of vengeance threatens all mankind. If humanity is to survive, a rebellious young officer named James T. Kirk and a coolly logical Vulcan named Spock must move beyond their rivalry and find a way to defeat Nero before it is too late.

10:52 PM - Post Screening Questions

11:07 PM - Announce Raffle Winners
The evening ends with the announcement of the raffle winners! We will be raffling off a Star Trek: The Original Series Captain's Chair, built in-house by the Granville Arts Center technical staff! 100% of raffle ticket sales will go to the Reel Owl Cinema Club, a unique four-year high school International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) narrative film program, which has been producing films at Garland High School since 2004. Get your tickets in the lobby! Must be present to win.


Exploration Hub at Garland Central Library

Join the Garland Central Library for Boldly Going to Garland, a one-day celebration honoring six decades of Star Trek. Whether you're a lifelong Trekkie (or Trekker, if you prefer), a casual fan, or introducing a new generation to the Federation, this event promises a day of exploration, imagination, and fun.

Exploration Hub Schedule

Federation Vendor Market
Community Room: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Star Trek Fan Films and Original Series Bloopers
Small Business Incubator: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Enjoy the creative work of Mark R. Largent with his original Stalled Trek Series.

Stalled Trek is a series of Animated Puppet Parodies of old Trek episodes! It's kind of a mash-up of Mad Magazine and the Muppets!

Writing Club
Conference Room: 4 p.m.

This month’s theme is science fiction. Participants will be guided by prompts to create unique stories.


Makerspace

Bind Your Own Captain’s Log Project
10 a.m. - noon

Explorers can bind their own Captain's Log journal and take note of important happenings for Star Date 41153.7. The Log will be bound pamphlet style.

Paint Combadges Project
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Laser cut Combadges for Explorers to paint in silver and gold

Make a Tribble!
Teen Area – 2 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Explorers can make their own small, cute, and furry alien.

Sip Long and Prosper

September 1 - 30
Enjoy Star Trek-themed drink specials throughout Downtown Garland all September long at participating businesses.

Blood Oath Martini

Tavern on the Square
601 W State St

Cosmic Cooler

Lockwood Distillery
532 Main St.

Vintage 2063

Taco y Vino
706 Main St

Rye Long & Prosper

Dos Banderas
614 Main St

Tart Trek

Boldly Going to Garland: Celebrating 60 Years of Star Trek
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