Star Wars fans in the Bay Area can look forward to a weekend of comic and pop culture fun, including some Star Wars programming, at WonderCon 2008. The show, managed by the same folks who produce San Diego Comic-Con International, will run from Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 4 at the Moscone Center South in San Francisco

FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd

Learn to Draw Star Wars at WonderCon!
(1:00 -- 2:00 pm in room 236)

Meet author Bonnie Burton and Star Wars artists Matt Busch and Tom Hodges, who just produced You Can Draw: Star Wars for DK Publishing. Young artists and artists of all ages can learn to draw Star Wars characters at the WonderCon panel, with instructions and tips from Hodges and Busch, and coaching from Burton. The book, You Can Draw: Star Wars, features tutorials on how to draw major characters from the entire saga including Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Padmé Amidala, Princess Leia, Emperor Palpatine, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, C-3PO and R2-D2 -- just to name a few. More info on the book can be found here.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3rd

Lucasfilm to Present Best Star Wars Costume Prize at Masquerade
(Masquerade starts at 8 pm, Esplanade Ballroom)

Star Wars costumers, enter your best Star Wars costume creation in the Masquerade on Saturday night at WonderCon. You'll be eligible to win a special prize chosen from the Lucasfilm Licensing archives, presented by Lucasfilm to the entrant with the best costume in the Star Wars category.

Lucas Licensing Portfolio Review
(3:00 - 5:00 pm in room 232)

Do you have what it takes to create art for the Star Wars galaxy? Troy Alders, Art Director at Lucas Licensing, will conduct portfolio reviews, provide critiques, and offer tips for aspiring artists. Read an interview with Troy Alders here to see what he is looking for.

Star Wars Fan Films: Return of Dark Side Vs. Light Side
(10:00 - 11:30 pm, time approximate after the Masquerade in the Esplanade ballroom)

Back by popular demand after a capacity show at WonderCon last year, Lucasfilm presents a friendly competition between "Dark Side" and "Light Side" Star Wars fan films. Look for a different slate of films this year, selected from the best finalists in the Star Wars Fan Film competition. Now in its sixth year, the competition recognizes outstanding achievements in fan films, with the top prize each year chosen by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas. Come and show your support for the Light side of the Force or the Dark! Those on the winning side will take home a Star Wars souvenir of the evening.

For more information about WonderCon, visit their official site here.