Twilight Midnight DVD release parties

The DVD release of “Twilight” is this weekend, and stores are planning a few midnight parties to celebrate the release. Here’s what to expect at each location:

Borders:

“Twilight” fans are invited to Borders stores nationwide March 20 as the retailer rolls out the red carpet beginning at 10 p.m. to host special “Twilight” DVD release parties featuring the “Borders Twilight Movie Awards,” created in collaboration with Summit Entertainment, the film’s producers. The movie’s biggest fans will select the winners of the “Borders Twilight Movie Awards” at each Borders store in 10 categories, such as “Best Bella-Edward Moment,” “Best Vampire” and “Best OME (Oh My Edward) Moment.” To cast their votes, fans simply download a ballot at www.bordersmedia.com/twilight complete it and bring it with them to the midnight release party. Award category winners will be announced at the end of the evening, but not before fans can view a specially created DVD from Summit Entertainment featuring an exclusive videotaped message from the “Twilight” cast welcoming everyone to their local “Borders Twilight Movie Awards” ceremony. All movie ballots collected will be entered into a “Moments of Twilight Raffle,” sponsored by Summit Entertainment.

In addition to the “Borders Twilight Movie Awards,” fans will have a great time enjoying a host of activities designed specifically for die-hard “Twilight” followers:
• Vampire Baseball-themed “Twilight” Trivia Sponsored by Twilight Lexicon — Fans won’t need a bat, ball or superhuman strength to participate in this event. Two teams will go head-to-head in nine innings of mind-twisting “Twilight” trivia. In the bonus “Grand Slam Lightning Round,” fans can really show their “Twilight” prowess when they answer trivia questions supplied by Twilight Lexicon. At the end of the game, one MVP — “Most Vampiric Player” — will be selected from each team.
• “Twilight” Scavenger Hunt — Twilighters should come prepared to scour their Borders store for “Twilight”-themed clues. A passion for winning and an extensive knowledge of all things “Twilight” are requirements for this “vampirific” activity that is sure to get the adrenaline pumping.
• “Moments of Twilight Raffle” Drawing Sponsored by Summit Entertainment — Just before the “Twilight” DVD officially goes on sale, Borders will draw 10 winning ballots from all who entered locally and present each person who submitted the ballot with an exclusive photo card provided by Summit Entertainment. Each photo card, direct from the Borders exclusive “Twilight” DVD, features an iconic image of the “Twilight” cast from the movie. Raffle winners will be encouraged to share their favorite “Twilight” movie moment with the crowd of fans gathered at the store.

Hot Topic: (Invitation Only)

You have to pre-order your DVD copy of Twilight to attend this party, but if you’re in, you could be the lucky winner of a Taylor Lautner signed poster. One lucky customer from each store will have the chance to win it.

Blockbuster: (press release)

As the vampire phenomenon “Twilight” is released on DVD, select BLOCKBUSTER stores across the country will host midnight DVD release parties late on Friday, Mar. 20 with a bloodthirsty theme. In addition to picking up “Twilight” to rent or buy when the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on Mar. 21, fans will be encouraged to “Give A Pint, Get A Pint,” donating blood to local blood banks in exchange for a free pint of ice cream for the first 50 donors at the party. Entertainment, “Twilight” themed giveaways and more will also be part of these events.

“The millions of ‘Twilight’ enthusiasts out there may be different ages and from different parts of the country, but there’s one thing we know about all of them: to love this movie, they’ve got heart,” said Alan Ziegel, Sr. Director Retail Film with Blockbuster Inc. “In addition to giving these fans the ‘Twilight’ movie and products they’ve been waiting for, Blockbuster wants to give this passionate group the chance to give the life-sustaining gift of blood to local communities.”

“Twilight” will be available for rent and purchase both in stores and online at www.blockbuster.com by mail or digital download. The retail DVD will be a special two-disc edition featuring excluded and deleted scenes, cast commentary, a “making of” documentary and music videos by Muse, Paramore and Linkin Park. In addition, stores are offering a BLOCKBUSTER exclusive: a life-sized poster of Edward available for purchase while supplies last. Other “Twilight” must-haves in stores include framed posters of the movie’s cast members and “Twilight” Sweethearts Conversation Hearts by NECCO.

Midnight DVD release parties and blood drives will be held in the markets listed below. Fans should contact their local stores for start times, event details and information on how to participate in the blood drive. Some stores will host on-site blood drives with local blood mobiles at the Mar. 20. DVD release parties. Other stores will work with blood banks at their off-site locations between Mar. 16 and Mar. 20, while their midnight events will be on site on Mar. 20.

– Atlanta: 3944 Peachtree Road NE
– Austin: 2110 Slaughter Lane
– Boston: 342 Washington St., Weymouth
– Chicago: 2025 Lincoln Highway, Charles
– Cleveland: 7480 Broadview Road, Parma
– Dallas: 5649 Lebanon Road, Frisco
– Denver: 9871 Parker Road, Parker
– Houston: 588 Sawdust Road, Spring
– Los Angeles: 17945 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills
– Minneapolis: 1539 South Robert St., West St. Paul
– New York: 701 West Montauk Highway, Babylon
– Philadelphia: 1586 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, N.J.
– Phoenix: 3141 South McClintock, Tempe
– Portland: 3955 Southeast Powell Blvd.
– Salt Lake City: 4095 S. Redwood Rd.
– San Francisco: 990 El Camino Real, Belmont
– Seattle: 10640 16th Ave. SW
– St. Louis: 8567 Watson Road, Webster Grove
– Tampa: 13610 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
– Washington, D.C.: 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, Md.

In addition to the stores with midnight release parties and blood drives, hundreds of additional BLOCKBUSTER stores will extend their hours to 1 a.m. so “Twilight” devotees can be among the first to rent or purchase the DVD. Contact local stores for details.

Walmart:

Walmart today announced detailed plans to bring teens, women and “Twilighters” of all ages more access to their beloved Twilight story as it gears up for the March 21 DVD release from Summit Entertainment. Bringing “Twilight shops” to all Walmart stores next month, the retailer announced today it will also host midnight events and giveaways in its 24-hour stores upon the DVD’s release.

Today, its special micro site www.walmart.com/twilight shares more details on these events, viewing party ideas, new behind-the-scenes movie footage, and a way to engage friends with a create-your-own electronic invitation (”eBite”) on the site.

“Fans of all ages have fallen in love with the Twilight series and we will bring to as many as possible special access to the stars, great priced products and additional, memorable activities around this DVD movie release, both in our stores and online,” says Greg Hall, vice president, Merchandising at Walmart.

Midnight Twilight Events and In-Store Giveaways

Walmart plans to give fans thirsting for more Twilight a good reason to be at its 24-hour stores late Friday evening Mar. 20 as they await the midnight DVD movie release. Among store activities will be ideas and products for fans looking to host their own Twilight viewing party. And, especially for Twilight super fans, Walmart has reserved exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.

Your House:

Comcast announced that it will have ‘Twilight’ on demand at 12:01 on March 21. Twilighters mark your calendars. “Twilight, the blockbuster love story that captured the imagination of fans around the world and smashed box office records, is available to Comcast On Demand customers in SD and HD beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 21 – the same day as the DVD. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, will also provide three behind-the-scenes featurettes, including one exclusive featurette. Twilight will be available On Demand under the “Movies & Events” folder in “All New Releases.”

“Attention Twilighters: at 12:01 a.m. you can watch Twilight in HD the moment it’s available and with no trip to the video store,” said Derek Harrar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. “Delivering this international pop culture phenomenon right into customers’ living rooms demonstrates the power of Comcast On Demand.”

Starting March 18, Comcast will have three featurettes available On Demand including an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at “Vampire Baseball.” “Vampire Baseball” examines the challenges and physical demands that come along with putting together the well-known movie scene and how visual effects were used. Other featurettes give an insiders view of what happened on the set along with a closer look at the vampires of Forks, Washington.

Forks “Twilight” Party

The  Dazzled by Twilight store in Forks  is throwing a party this Firday from 10 PM to Midnight. The party was moved to the Rainforest Arts Center at 35 Forks Ave because they expect a big crowd.  Attendees can expect tattoos, a performance by Quileute dancers doing the ‘Wolf Dance’, and other cool stuff. Here’s a link to the details.

Please feel free to add your own Twilight DVD release party if you’re hosting one for the public.