Twi-Hards Recount Five-Day ‘Breaking Dawn’ Tent City Experience

The plaza at LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles was the home of approximately 1200 Twi-Hards for five days, as the masses desperately awaited the premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” at the Nokia Theater.

The official line for fans to wait for access on the sidelines of the red carpet at the premiere began at 6 AM last Thursday morning, but that didn’t stop “Twilight” fan Laura Barraza, 37, from San Bernardino, Calif., from trying to get ahead. Laura arrived with her daughter on Wednesday night at 11 PM and was told to wait in her car until 6 AM the next morning when fans could begin lining up.

“All of the sudden I heard car doors slamming around 5 AM and people were running to the corner to start lining up,” Laura told Access Hollywood. “Then Summit stepped in and numbered us… I ended up being #29, and my daughter #30.”

Some fans, like Eddie Maurice, 62, traveled all the way across the country – in his case, from Fort Myers, Fla.

As soon as his plane touched down late Wednesday night, Eddie, his wife and daughter went straight to the Downtown spot to begin lining up.

“My wife, daughter and I all flew in together. We are a Twi-Family,” Eddie said. “’Twilight’ provides us common ground, keeps our family talking…we watch all the movies together. It’s just great for our family unit.”

While the wait was five days, not all fans spent the time inside Tent City.

“A lot of people think we don’t shower but I have a room right here at the Marriott. I sleep out here but I go to the room in the morning and shower and try to get cute,” Laura Barraza said.

Summit Entertainment, the film studio behind “The Twilight Saga,” treated fans to many goodies, amenities and entertainment over the week, including free hot chocolate, a concert with artists from the “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack and even screening a different “Twilight Saga” movie each night.

“As soon as ‘Eclipse’ came on, everyone started screaming,” security guard Simon Kellogg told Access. “Especially during every Robert Pattinson scene…the fans were going nuts!”

“Breaking Dawn” actors Tinsel Korey and Kiowa Gordon, members of the films’ wolf pack, also made surprise appearances, which elated the fans.

“Kiowa showed up around 11:30 PM on Friday night and only 40-50 campers were still awake. He actually went into people’s tents to wake them up and said, ‘I’m here!’” Laura recounted.

— Chandler Chase

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