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Best Ways To Bring Middle Earth To Sacramento

Fans of mythopoeia are eager to experience "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the prequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy. The new film, premiering in the Sacramento area on December 14, stars Martin Freeman of the BBC's "The Office" and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" as Bilbo Baggins. The long-awaited prequel is causing a stir worldwide and fans in the Sacramento area are finding many ways to celebrate.
"The Hobbit" Line Party
Esquire IMAX
1211 K St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-4629
www.theonering.net

Price: Party is free; movie admission is $18 for adults/$15 for children and seniors
Date: December 13 at 10 p.m. to December 14 at 3:30 a.m.

Waiting in line for tickets to a movie premiere might normally be quite dull, but true fans will be gathering at the Esquire IMAX to turn this particular line into a party. Come mix and mingle with other "The Lord of the Rings" enthusiasts and even strut your stuff like a hobbit if you wish (see below for fun costume options). Similar line parties will be taking place at premieres in more than 40 places around the world including Finland, New Zealand, Bulgaria and Australia.

The Writing on the Ring: A Tengwar Writing Lesson
Sacramento Public Library - Central Library
828 I St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 264-2920
www.saclibrary.org

Price: Free
Date: December 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Those wishing to steep themselves in the language and lore of Middle Earth will enjoy this final lecture of "The Lord of the Rings" series put on by the Sacramento Public Library. Elizabeth Bell will explore Tengwar, the artificial script Tolkien created for use in title-page inscriptions for the book trilogy. Lecture attendees will also learn how to write in English using Tengwar script. All materials needed for the lesson will be provided by the library.

Decades Costumes
2004 Del Paso Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 920-0932
www.decadescostumes.com

Even Dark Lord Sauron would agree that donning the perfect attire for the premiere is a necessity. Decades rents out high-quality costumes that will suit the occasion. Do it Gandalf-style with a realistic wig, beard, robe and staff or opt to don the garb of Frodo, Bilbo, Sam or Aragorn. Full outfits including accessories run from $25 to $45, and the five-day rental period allows plenty of time to return from Middle Earth.

Related: Best Theaters For Independent Movies In The Sacramento Area

Guardians of Middle-Earth Video Game
Game 'n Trade
1560 W. El Camino Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 925-8888
www.videogamentrade.com

Warner Bros. Entertainment has just launched Guardians of Middle-Earth to coincide with the release of "The Hobbit." Gamers can enjoy the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Sacramento technology writer Chris Demas recommends that fans visit Game 'n Trade in Natomas to find Guardians of Middle-Earth and other "The Lord of the Rings" games.

Related: Best Comic Book Shops In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people.
Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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