Fans of the Twilight book and movie saga are gathering at a Seattle convention this weekend, and they’ll get a taste of real Quileute tribal traditions and performers — not vampires and werewolves.
Carol Hatch, chairwoman of the Quileute tribe, as well as the Quileute Wolf Dancers from tribal school in LaPush will speak and preform at the event officially known as the Seattle Twilight Fan Convention — or TwiCon.
Also at the convention will be a few of the actors from the “Twilight” movies, fan discussion groups and, of course, merchandise relating to the best-selling book series and blockbuster movies, “Twilight” and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
No big stars
None of the “big three” stars of the movies — Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — will attend the event, which is put on by Creation Entertainment and Summit Entertainment, the studio which made the movies.
Also not expected is Stephenie Meyer, the author of the four Twilight books that have spawned the two movies and a third to be released midyear.
The event will run all day and night Friday, Saturday and Sunday at The Westin hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle.
Meyer’s fictional saga tells the tale of Forks teenager Bella Swan and her suitors, vampire Edward Cullen and werewolf Jacob Black.
The character of Jacob, a Quileute teen, has drawn worldwide attention to the LaPush-based tribe’s history and traditions like never before — although there are no werewolves in tribal customs.
The tribe has invited fans to visit its weekly Drum Circles on Wednesday evenings at the A-Ka-Lat Community Center and periodically performs traditional Wolf Dances at West End events.
“We are delighted to bring youth from the village [to Seattle] to share their talents with the fans,” said tribal publicist Jackie Jacobs, who coordinated the tribe’s appearance at The Westin.
“It is extra special to be there the day the full wolfpack will be in attendance.”
The group will speak at the convention on Sunday at 11:40 a.m. — just after fan Web site www.twilightlexicon.com founders host a panel and before actors Kiowa Gordon and Bronson Pelletier, who portray werewolves in “New Moon.”
The event will also draw celebrities such as Peter Facinelli, who plays Carlisle Cullen, Edward’s father in “Twilight.”
Vendor booth
In addition to speaking at the event, the tribe will have a vendor booth all three days of the event, Jacobs said.
It will be the first time authentic Quileute merchandise has been offered at a Twilight convention, Jacobs said.
“It is a wonderful venue for the Quileute to share the true culture of the ‘Nation,'” she said.
“It means our carvers, basket weavers and other artisans can share authentic merchandise with the fans and we are thrilled for the opportunity.”
Dazzled by Twilight
Also attending as a vendor will be Dazzled by Twilight owner Annette Root.
Root opened her first Twilight-specialty store in Forks in November 2008 and added a second one in downtown Port Angeles in 2009.
“We’ll take a lot of merchandise and also see if we can funnel people to Forks to take our tours,” Root said.
“We might attend other conventions, but my first priority is that the Forks store is open and covered.”
Last year, more than 70,000 people visited to see the real-life West End locations of the fictional story.
More than 20 Twilight conventions are planned for 2010, said Monica Gillen, spokeswoman for Creation Entertainment.
She was unsure how many people were expected at the three-day Seattle event.
In addition to the talks and appearances throughout all three days, a Volturi Vampire Ball will be held at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. Tickets to the ball are $89.
Admission to the convention is $20 for Friday and $25 each day for Saturday and Sunday — or $40 per day for preferred seating.
A package for the whole weekend is $69, and $159 for preferred seating.
For $269, an attendee may have first shot at getting autographs in addition to the preferred seating as well as admission to the Volturi Vampire Ball.
For more information, phone 818-409-0960, ext. 225, or visit http://tinyurl.com/d83hus.
The Web site said Wednesday night that online tickets are sold out, but tickets will be sold at the door.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
