For Star Wars fans, “May the Fourth” is a day to celebrate all things Star Wars.
For hardcore and casual fans of the film series, it was a time to wave around lightsabers and dress up. That was the case at the Riverside Public Library, where dozens of kids received a free lightsaber and were able to say hello to characters such as Ezra Bridger and Zeb Orrelios from the new Disney animated television series “Rebels.”
Ryan Miorelli of Santa Monica was dressed in an orange jump suit as Bridger.
“May the Fourth is the best day ever if you love Star Wars and puns like I do,” said Miorelli, who has been dressing up as Star Wars characters for the past three years. “(May the Fourth) represents community and coming together.”
Brian Littlefield, the youth program director at the Riverside Public Library, coordinated the event, which drew dozens of children and fans who dressed up as their favorite characters. Littlefield said Star Wars events at public libraries help encourage children to read, in addition to movies and television shows, Star Wars media is also available as literature and comic books.
“I want more families to come to the library and I know Star Wars has that generational effect, so the parents love Star Wars and the little kids love Star Wars, and it brings the family together so they can see the Star Wars characters and read the books,” Littlefield said.
Westchester resident Shawn Crosby is a huge fan of Star Wars, and is widely recognized in the Star Wars fan and cosplay community for his work entertaining in costume as the Jedi knight Obi Wan Kenobi. He’s even modified his sedan to look like a Rebel star-fighter ship, complete with a droid sticking out the back.
Crosby was in Texas Monday, after helping entertain children at a Star Wars day at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Sunday.
“It’s an opportunity for people with a similar interest to get together and find each other and goof around and celebrate something they really like,” Crosby said. “It’s very much kind of a St. Patrick’s Day kind of thing. People of a similar culture celebrate being a part of that culture.”
The Eureka! restaurant chain, which has several restaurants throughout Southern California, including locations in Redlands and Claremont, celebrated Star Wars Day by offering special beers to commemorate the event.
“National Star Wars Day provided us with a perfect opportunity to create additional awareness to our craft beer program, and gave is a chance to have fun with our eclectic beer offerings,” said Alexia Penna, spokeswoman for Eureka!
