Now that many of you have graduated from school or are getting some well-deserved vacation from work, it's time to start making travel plans, and one thing you definitely want to get on board for now is the biggest Trek bash of the summer.

The pinnacle of the summer convention season has arguably become Creation Entertainment's official Star Trek gathering in Las Vegas the first weekend of August. Easily rivaling its own springtime "Grand Slam" in Pasadena, Creation's Vegas affair boasts one of the largest slates of celebrity guests ever assembled, and judging from last year, will be one of grandest parties for Trekkies and Trekkers ever staged. In fact, the highest level weekend pass — the "Gold" package — is already sold out, but there is still a limited supply of "Preferred" weekend packages, along with single-day tickets.

Happening August 1-3 (Friday through Sunday) at the Las Vegas Hilton, the event currently has more than 50 stars lined up to appear, including the entire living principal cast of the Original Series; most of the cast of Star Trek: Voyager including Kate Mulgrew; a large crop from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation; and from Enterprise, Dominic Keating and John Billingsley.

Besides celebrity talks, signings and photo ops, there will be a plethora of other activities for conventioneers, such as a music video competition; an American Idol-style talent contest with a top prize worth $1000; evening shows and a charity breakfast with the stars. The Vegas Hilton is home of Star Trek: The Experience and the Quark's Bar restaurant, and that's where many of the events will take place, including a Friday night party that is also already sold out.

You don't want to miss it because, remember ... what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Visit this page at the Creation Entertainment Web site for all the latest details, including ticket prices for the convention itself as well as for the ancillary special events.

If Nevada is a little too far away for you, Creation has another official Star Trek convention on the East Coast you can check out. It's in Binghamton, New York, on Saturday, August 30, with William Shatner as the special guest.

Also, several "Sci-Fi Super-Sale" events will take place around the country, where Creation and its dealers will offer their goods at significant bargain prices, and where rare collectibles will be put on the block in no-minimum-bid auctions. Those will happen in Pasadena, California (June 1); Plano, Texas (June 14-15); and Dearborn, Michigan (July 26-27). See this page for more.

For a full listing of officially licensed Star Trek conventions, see the Conventions section of Community.

What are your summer convention plans? Hook up with others through the Star Trek message boards!