If you saw last night’s episode of the “Big Bang Theory,” you probably already know that this Sunday is one of the most fan-boyish (or fan-girlish as the case may be) days of the year. If, on the other hand, you really aren’t a fan of the Big Bang Theory, you try to avoid stuff people consider “dorky” or nerdy,” or you just missed last night’s episode, you may be wondering what’s so special about the 4th of May. Well, the 4th of May is well-known throughout the science fiction crowd (or the speculative fiction crowd if you prefer) as “Stars Wars Day” because “May the 4th be with you” sounds a lot like the famous “Star Wars” line “May the force be with you.” As a result, there is no shortage of Stars Wars themed events this weekend, and if you’re a fan of the series or you just like people marching around in full body armor, there’s no better time to get your geek on.
First, if you’ve always wondered what it would be like if the Empire took over your local zoo, you don’t need to wonder anymore. This is because Zoo New England is hosting May the 4th Be With You at the Franklin Park Zoo this Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This event will allow you and anyone else you feel like bringing with you to learn how the animals in the zoo are similar to some of the creatures in the Star Wars universe, participate in a Star Wars themed scavenger hunt, watch some of the animals at the zoo play with their own Star Wars themed enrichment items, and best of all, meet members of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion (dedicated Star Wars fans who use some of the most impressive costumes you will ever see to dress up as members of the Empire.) You can also meet members of the Alderaan Base of the Rebel Legion (dedicated fans who use extremely detailed costumes to dress up as members of the Rebel Alliance), get your picture taken with your favorite characters, and do a whole lot more. For more information on the May the 4th Be With You at the Franklin Park Zoo event, please visit the Franklin Park Zoo Special Events page.
Secondly, if you can’t make it to the zoo before 3:00 P.M. or you really need an even bigger Star Wars fix, you may want to check out the Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester. The Cape Ann Community Cinema is hosting their own May the 4th Be With You Celebration from 1:30 P.M. to approximately 8:30 P.M. on Sunday. This celebration will feature a fan film festival with a series of fan-made tributes to the Star Wars series; the world premiere of “Plastic Galaxy: The Story of ‘Star Wars’ Toys”; the film that helped inspire some of the plot and storytelling techniques used in Star Wars, “The Hidden Fortress”; and if you missed them at the zoo or you just had to see them again, members of the New England Garrison of the 501st Legion. For more information on the May the 4th Be With You Celebration at the Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester, please visit the Cape Ann Community Cinema website.
Finally, if you aren’t in the Boston area, you’re looking for something that you can do from home, or you’re just in desperate need of some awesome Star Wars swag, you may want to check out the Official Star Wars Day Events page, the Official Star Wars Day Deals page, or the Steam May the 4th Be With You Sale page.
Photo credit: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)