Downtown Atlanta flooded with costumed enthusiasts as Dragon*Con kicked into full swing Labor Day weekend.

Jedis, Klingons, Hobbits and Wizards attended the 20th annual science fiction and fantasy convention.

Hundreds of people slaved over costumes so they could march in the Dragon*Con parade on Saturday.

The parade involved hoards of pirates, zombies and aliens, and ended with the 501st Legion, a collection of the bad guys from the Star Wars movies, most notably a regiment of nearly 50 Stormtroopers.

One 14-year-old boy, dressed as Cloud from the video game Final Fantasy VII, said he wasn’t brave enough to march this year, but he worked hard enough on his costume with his dad that he would like to next year.

“We had to do it during the night too, so it took three days,” said Aaron Bradsher, a high schooler from Durham, NC.

There’s more to do at Dragon*Con than just play dress-up.

The convention was brimming with science fiction and fantasy celebrities.

For the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, five of the previous actors including Darth Vader made an appearance for a Q&A.

They reminisced on their parts and what they liked about the films.

The Marriott had the Walk of Fame and gaming were held.

In the Walk of Fame, there were celebrities shaking hands and signing autographs.

The gaming area housed computer games, miniature games, card games and live action role playing.

Kirby McKibben, a high schooler from Canton, was one of many playing a miniature game called Heroclix.

“It’s fun fighting superheroes against everyone,” he said.

Tim Cummings, a miniature games staff member, described it as “chess on acid.”

The Dealer’s Room was in the Hilton. In this enormous room a collection of stuffed animals, action figures, CDs, DVDs and other merchandise served as vampires to convention-goers’ wallets.

The Comic Artists’ Alley had independent and big-name artists selling books and commissioned sketches.

Dragon*Con turned upside-down at night with parties all throughout the hotels, on all levels of weird.

One party held by Wolf Pack Sci-Fi and Costuming featured Gothic clothes and the metal band playing were decked out in giant, robot costumes.

The convention’s Web site boasts it is the largest sci-fi convention in America.

Dana Snyder, the voice of Master Shake on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, said he liked Dragon*Con because it felt folksy.

“I feel like it’s more by and for the fans,” he said.

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