Despite the cancellation of the latest Star Trek series and the general consensus that the franchise is taking "a rest," Creation Entertainment's official Star Trek Las Vegas Convention is drawing a bigger crowd than ever.

Creation reports that 12,000 tickets were pre-sold for this fourth annual Vegas con, representing a 20 percent increase over last year. That figure does not include admissions sold at the door. Attendance has risen every year the event has taken place.

Held at the Las Vegas Hilton, home of Star Trek: The Experience (which includes the "Borg Invasion 4D" attraction), this year's program boasts one of the thickest slates of celebrity appearances at any convention anywhere. The con got underway yesterday with such fan favorites as LeVar Burton and John de Lancie before an impressive Thursday crowd.

We will bring you complete coverage of each day's events next week, but in the meantime, you can check out photos from Thursday (on the left).

Burton ("Geordi La Forge") commented, "Aren't we sad that there is no more Trek," and then added, "I'm so pissed." LeVar went on to comment about his reservations with the direction the franchise has taken lately. (Burton directed several episodes of each of the contemporary series, including Star Trek: Enterprise.)

De Lancie ("Q") revealed that he will be playing a part in an independent movie that is a biography of his own life — and he will play an Italian shepherd.

Grace Lee Whitney ("Janice Rand") and Robert Walker ("Charlie Evans") reminisced about being players in 1960s Hollywood, working with such legends as Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. Corbin Bernsen ("Q2") gave away the plotline of a film he plans to make that is specifically directed toward Star Trek fans, and Robin Curtis ("Saavik") talked about life and love.

This convention is being dedicated to James Doohan ("Montgomery Scott"), who passed away on July 20. A tribute was also made to DeForest Kelley ("Dr. McCoy"), who died in 1999. Terry Lee Rioux, author of Kelley's biography "From Sawdust to Stardust," spoke about the life of the venerated actor.

The first of "the four captains" featured this weekend will appear today. Kate Mulgrew ("Kathryn Janeway") will take the stage shortly, along with Garrett Wang ("Harry Kim"), Michael Dorn ("Worf"), Marina Sirtis ("Troi"), Gary Graham ("Soval"), Max Grodenchik ("Rom"), Chase Masterson ("Leeta"), and others.

Avery Brooks ("Ben Sisko") is scheduled for Saturday, and then both Patrick Stewart ("Jean-Luc Picard") and William Shatner ("James T. Kirk") will command the stage on Sunday.

Connor Trinneer ("Trip"), Brent Spiner ("Data"), Robert Beltran ("Chakotay"), and Robert Duncan McNeill ("Tom Paris") are among the other special guest regaling the crowd over the next three days. (Note: Jolene Blalock was forced to cancel due to work commitments.)

Composer Dennis McCarthy will be conducting the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra in themes from Star Trek films and TV series, in a concert taking place Saturday night.

Check back with us next week for complete reports!