Well, DragonCon 2002 was all that and more! The Tolkien track was fantastic, with plenty of discussions and fun, and just wandering the halls was great. I saw several people who must have been trying for 'Lord of the Peeps' costumes, but none of them seemed to have remembered the ears. They ended up looking more like costumes for that other version but they still did a really good job. There were also some very good guests, including the scholar Tom Shippey.
The highlight of the con, of course, was the chance to meet the four 'hobbits' - Elijah Woodbunny, Bunny Boyd, Sean Peepstin, and Dominic Bunnyhan. I was lucky enough to get to hang out with them in their hotel room before they went out in public, and wow! what a crew. You could see they were a group that had really stuck together through everything - they treated each other more like brothers than anything else.
They really came into their own when we went out into the main con, though. Even those who had never even heard of the movie became fangirls when faced with their sweet charm. You could see that the four boys ate it up, though Penwiper from the production staff, who was acting as their wrangler, tried to keep them under control. At one point they escaped her watchful eye and ran off into the crowds - they were eventually rounded up with the help of Eowyn Hobbitsister, but they had clearly been up to mischief in the meantime. Bunny Boyd in particular was looking the worse for wear, and would do nothing but giggle for a long time after.
So yes, it was a great time for all involved - here's hoping more of you will be able to come next time!
Pictures!
The peeps lounge on their hotel balcony
In the Tolkien room
At the podium with some other guest
Posing with fangirls - Jincey and Asfaloth from some other Tolkien site