Are you one of those folks who can’t afford to attend a Star Trek convention, or for whom traveling to one is physically challenging or prohibitively expensive?  Well, actors/hosts Ryan T. Husk and Cirroc Lofton from “The 7th Rule” podcast (link: The 7th Rule on YouTube) have got you covered with Virtual Trek Con 5, which begins live-streaming tomorrow on Thursday, February 15th through Monday, February 19th, 2024.  Your ‘ticket’ is right HERE: Virtual Trek Con.com

The preview of Virtual Trek Con streamed last night (Feb. 13th), but sadly, I didn’t see the e-mail until this morning. But no worries; here is the 96-minute “preview night” via YouTube:

The panel schedule for each day is up now: Virtual Trek Con 5-Day-schedule.  The panels are staggered with no overlap, so you don’t have to worry about missing one panel as another goes live (unlike real-world conventions).  Just click on the event of your choosing when it goes live, and voilà.  If you’re busy and miss a panel or two?  Catch them later on YouTube (though you might miss out on live-voting or other live-streaming exclusives).

Some of the guests of Virtual Trek Con 5 include actors Walter Koenig (“Pavel Chekov” TOS), Jonathan Frakes (“Will Riker” TNG, PIC), Nana Visitor (“Kira Nerys” DS9), Terry Farrell (“Jadzia Dax” DS9), Tawny Newsome (“Beckett Mariner” LD), Armin Shimerman (“Quark” DS9), Denise Crosby (“Tasha” TNG), John De Lancie (“Q” TNG/VGR/PIC), Garrett Wang (“Harry Kim” VGR), Robert Duncan McNeill  (“Tom Paris” VGR), Cirroc Lofton (“Jake Sisko”),  Raven Dauda (“Dr. Pollard,” DSC), Chase Masterson (“Leeta” DS9), Max Grodenchik (“Rom” DS9), John Billingsley (“Dr. Phlox” ENT), Robin Curtis (“Saavik” from “Star Trek III” “Star Trek IV”), Todd Stashwick (“Capt. Liam Shaw” PIC), and many more!

Note: I assume fellow Star Trek fans know the abbreviations for the various Star Trek series (TOS = The Original Series, TNG = The Next Generation, etc). Just checking…hehe.

Other guests include Emmy-award winning makeup artist Michael Westmore (TNG, DS9, VGR, ENT), author/screenwriter David Gerrold (TOS “The Trouble with Tribbles,” “The Cloud Minders”), writer Lisa Klink (VGR), Star Trek designer/FX artist Doug Drexler, production illustrator John Eaves, author Larry Nemecek (“The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion”) and others who’ve been involved with Star Trek over the years as well. 

In addition to live discussion panels about Star Trek production, fandom activities and other group discussions, there will also be live episode reviews with Star Trek actors, with actor Walter Koenig live-streaming the classic Star Trek original series pilot, “The Cage,” as well as his own debut episode, “Amok Time.”  Actress Denise Crosby will be live-streaming/reviewing what is inarguably her finest episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” 

There’s also the “LLAPy Awards,” streaming on Sunday the 18th, which allow live virtual-attendees to choose the winners!  There’s also an archive of past Virtual Trek Cons here: virtualtrekcon.1

An easier Star Trek convention experience you will not find, and I should know, after attending nearly a quarter century of conventions to date; pre-pandemic, my wife & I were doing up to ten conventions a year.  Having attending my first virtual convention during the COVID pandemic in 2021 (“Planetfest ’21: To Mars and Back Again”), I can vouch that a virtual convention features many of the same events as a live convention, but minus the costs of hotels, travel (gas/planes/trains), food, etc.  In-person conventions are very exciting, yes, but they can also be mighty expensive…not to mention a logistical hassle.  

With Virtual Trek Con 5, you can attend in your pajamas, if you wish; or in your finest Starfleet uniform, whichever you prefer.  So, starting tomorrow through Monday the 19th, beam on down to Virtual Trek Con 5, beginning tomorrow, February 15th, beginning at 12 noon PT/3 ET. 

Live long and prosper!