"I'm floored!" said Alyce Kozar, 24, who said she just joined the fan camp "to be with those sharing my fandom".
The Los Angeles resident bonded instantly with 23-year-old Jemmie Yamson of Minneapolis, whom she met when the camp began, and now the two are planning to travel to Comic-Con together.
Fan camp for #CatchingFire Premiere at L.A. I really miss those days!!???? pic.twitter.com/fVKf42O6i5
— Diana Horan. (@DianaStylson) November 17, 2013
Fan camp participants won their spots in an online lottery. The camp began Saturday morning, when fans were split into "districts", echoing a tenet from the books. They were responsible for their own tents and sleeping gear, but Lionsgate, which also hosted a fan camp for the first Hunger Games film, provided diversions such as cast visits and contests.
Sam, Jena and Jeffery at the catching fire fan camp. pic.twitter.com/12wVYl0CHn
— ? (@catchingj0sh) November 17, 2013
Director Francis Lawrence and star Josh Hutcherson were among the stars who dropped by during the two-and-a-half-day campout.
Josh ieri a Los Angeles al Fan Camp di Catching Fire mentre incontra una fan! #CFFanCamp pic.twitter.com/seLsBpIZsY
— Josh Hutcherson ITA (@HutchersonITA) November 18, 2013
Fans brought their own hand-made posters, and many carried copies of the second book in the series by Suzanne Collins.
Danny Hernandez of Azusa, California, was among those with book (and Sharpie) in hand. He applied for the fan camp so he might get a chance to see the film early, but found connecting with fellow fans even more rewarding.
"The coolest thing was meeting all of these people," the 29-year-old said, adding that he had come alone but now belonged to a group of 10, who planned to watch the film together.
Cheyenne Deen of Las Vegas convinced her mom and sister to travel to Los Angeles for the camping adventure. The 22-year-old and her friend, 19-year-old Michelle Mota, came to the first Hunger Games fan camp and also slept on the sidewalk for the Twilight premieres.
They have a tip for fan-camp folks: "Never leave the camp because there's always something going on."
My tent at Catching Fire Fan Camp. @TheHungerGames pic.twitter.com/xMQMkGTmWp
— Jo Carson (@EmpressFanGirl) November 17, 2013
The two participated in a scavenger hunt and collected autographs from Hutcherson and others.
Deen's mother, Elaine, who'd never attended a fan camp before, was dazzled to near speechlessness.
"I'm star-struck," she said.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens Thursday in SA.