A Look Back: Star Wars Celebration II Diorama Workshop

Leading up to Star Wars Celebration Orlando we thought we’d take a look back at one of our favorite attractions, Frank D’Iorio’s Diorama Workshop.  Frank has been teaching fans how to build amazing buildings, desert landscapes, and snow caves at Celebration since 2002, with each event being bigger and more ambitious. Star Wars Celebration II kicked off on May 3, 2002 at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN and the diorama area was in a smaller room off of a side hallway, not on the main exhibition floor.

Along the wall, fans could check out pre-made dioramas from The Phantom MenaceA New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Meanwhile, Frank and his crew helped walk attendees through constructing buildings, docking bays, and moisture vaporators to build the Mos Eisley spaceport.  By Sunday, all of the work was on display along with action figures, some customized, and even an X-Wing for the Celebration exclusive Jorg Sacul figure to pilot. You may even notice what looks to be a prediction for the end of Rebels season 3.

While the diorama may be considered small compared to subsequent efforts, the amount of detail packed into the allotted room, and the quality of the build, helps the first Celebration diorama stand up 15 years later.