Whether it's May the 4th (aka Star Wars Day) or any time of year, the Entertainment Capital of the World offers many ways for fans to celebrate Star Wars.
Every summer, the music of legendary film composer John Williams is performed by the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl, accompanied by clips from the Star Wars franchise and other classics. Featuring Williams and David Newman sharing the podium, the 2024 edition of Maestro of the Movies is taking place over three nights, July 12-14.
With the May 4th premiere of Tales of the Empire on Disney+ and the upcoming live action series The Acolyte in June, try to contain your excitement - or as Yoda said, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
All events take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024 unless otherwise noted.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
These ARE the droids you're looking for at the spectacular Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Opened in September 2021, the museum houses more than 13 million objects in a 300,000 square-foot campus designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.
May the 4th Celebration: Across the Galaxy
Is the Force strong with you? Whether you’re a Padawan, Jedi or Sith, all will unite for the May the 4th Celebration: Across the Galaxy - a fun-filled day that includes a Droid meet & greet, all-ages workshop, community mural, screenings, and more in a galaxy far, far away.
Programming will also feature a special presentation of the Dykstraflex computerized camera control system used to film the original Star Wars trilogy. Be sure to dress up in your best Star Wars–inspired costumes!
SCHEDULE
- Community Mural (11am–2pm) - Come to the Dark Side or support the Rebellion by adding colors and drawings on a collaborative mural at the Disney Piazza inspired by the Star Wars universe.
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (11am) - Screening in the David Geffen Theater. This is a separate ticketed event.
- Jump to Lightspeed: Encounters Tours (noon, 2pm, 4pm) - Enjoy a sneak peek of the second iteration of the Inventing Worlds and Characters: Encounters gallery located on Level 3 with a guided tour. Meet new friends—heroes and villains—before the exhibit opens to the public on May 12. This is a separate ticketed event.
- BB8 and R2D2 Meet & Greet (10:30am–12pm | 2pm–4pm) - Stop by the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby for photo ops with your favorite fan-built droids. General Admission ticket not required.
- Force Training Demo (1pm) - Are you Force sensitive? Learn the ways of the Jedi with an interactive demonstration in the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby.
- May the 4th Art-Making Activities (12:30pm–4:30pm) - Create buttons, Star Wars-inspired thaumatropes, Star Wars–inspired origami characters, and glow-in-the-dark galaxy slime in the Shirley Temple Education Studio.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (7:30pm) - Come dressed as your favorite character from across the Star Wars galaxy for a chance to be selected to participate in a costume contest before the screening in the David Geffen Theater. This is a separate ticketed event.
Fanny's
On May the 4th, the museum's on-site restaurant, Fanny's is offering house-made chocolates, Wookie cookies, and more sweet treats until 6pm.
Scum & Villainy Cantina
Live out your dreams of hanging out in Mos Eisley at Scum & Villainy Cantina, a replica of Tatooine's "wretched hive" situated in the heart of Hollywood. Conspire in a corner booth, belly up for a genre-inspired cocktail, or flaunt your fandom during the Wednesday night Trivia Quest - questions written in-house by geeks, for geeks. Other weekly events include Twin Sun Taco Tuesday and Cosmic Karaoke on Thursdays. Cosplay is welcomed and encouraged, but as their FAQs states: “No projectiles!” – so no one shoots first.
May the 4th Be With You Party
Grab your lightsaber, jump in your speeder, and head over to Scum & Villainy Cantina for the annual May the 4th Be With You Party! The blast doors will open at 6am, so arrive early for the waffle bar (free with drink purchase). No reservations and you can’t win a table in a game of sabacc - seating is first-come, first-served. Door prizes every 30 minutes from 6-10am. Star Wars Trivia starts at 10am and anyone caught using Jedi mind tricks will be eliminated immediately. Think you have what it takes? Great kid, don’t get cocky. No cover, RSVP at Eventbrite.
El Capitan Theatre
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (May 3-7, 2024)
Get an early start to Star Wars Day at the historic El Capitan Theatre, which is hosting 25th anniversary screenings of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace on May 3-7.
The Skywalker Saga: May the 4th Marathon
For hardcore fans, the May the 4th Marathon ($135) starts at 10am, features all nine movies and includes an exclusive poster, all-you-can-eat popcorn, food and more!
Rooftop Cinema Club (May 4-5, 2024)
One of LA's most popular outdoor movie series, Rooftop Cinema Club offers a premier cinematic experience at LEVEL in Downtown LA. RCC presents Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back on May the 4th; and Revenge of the Sith on Sunday, May 5. The pre-screening party includes Star Wars trivia, photo ops, and a costume contest. General Admission tickets are $35 and include access to the rooftop party and a guaranteed seat for the movie. Seating is first-come, first-served. 18 and over.
Catch One
The legendary Catch One is hosting two May the 4th parties. May the beats be with you at the 18+ Galactic Rave, featuring House music in two rooms from 8pm to 2am. Tickets to the Galactic Rave are on sale at Eventbrite.
LA’s longest-running industrial dance party, Das Bunker takes over four areas of Catch One with its 11th annual Star Wars Night starting at 9pm. Tickets to the 21 and over event are $15 for General Admission and $30 for the Gungan Tiki Bar.
May the 4th Unite Us - Micky's
Blast off to Micky's Upstairs for May the 4th Unite Us, the ultimate cosmic shindig! Show off your zero gravity dance moves and groove to DJ Sir Canady's interstellar mix of Top 40, Pop, R&B and Hip Hop. Dress code is "starship sleek." RSVP and bottle service reservations at Eventbrite.
Movies on Location: "Star Wars"
My Valley Pass is presenting the original Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) on May the 4th as part of Movies on Location. The series features movies screened with state-of-the-art projection and sound at their actual filming locations, or at settings that go hand-in-hand with the curated films.
A New Hope will be screened in the parking lot of Neiman & Company, renowned to fans as the original location of Industrial Light & Magic, where all of the visual effects for the first Star Wars movie were produced. Doors open at 6pm, the film begins at 8pm. General Admission is $25, tours of the building are sold out.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Carrie Fisher was posthumously honored with the 2,754th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at last year's Star Wars Day. Billie Lourd accepted the star on behalf of her late mother. Fisher's star, in the category of Motion Pictures, was unveiled at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. near the El Capitan Theatre and just a few feet from Mark Hamill's star (6834 Hollywood Blvd). Walk a few blocks east to Harrison Ford’s star on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Musso & Frank Grill (6667 Hollywood Blvd).
TCL Chinese Theatre
Step back in time to the Star Wars premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre (then called Mann’s Chinese Theatre) on May 25, 1977 and measure your feet against the footprints of R2-D2, C-3PO and Darth Vader at the Forecourt of the Stars off Hollywood Boulevard.
Swordplay LA
Better than a training session on Dagobah, Swordplay LA in Burbank offers Lightsaber Fencing classes on Tuesdays from 7:30pm to 9pm. Learn the ways of the Force in a blend of the art of lightsaber fencing with the rich traditions of other sword and sport fencing techniques. Priced at $35 per class and open to all skill levels ages 14 and up.
Jedi Training Academy
Young Padawans can hone their skills at the summertime Jedi Training Academy, an exciting and immersive camp led by Swordplay's own Jedi Knights. Students will get to build, customize, and battle with their own lightsabers throughout the week, which includes games, lightsaber combat techniques, and galactic arts & crafts. The Monday-Friday sessions take place from 10am to noon: June 24-28, July 8-12 and July 22-26. Pricing is $250 per week and includes a Swordplay LA Camp 2024 shirt.
Field Trip to Tatooine
Superfans can take a 4.5-hour road trip from LA to Nevada’s Death Valley, where many scenes for Episode IV - A New Hope and Episode VI - Return of the Jedi were shot. Bring your Jawa and Tusken Raider action figures to recreate some of your favorite scenes - and don’t forget the sunscreen! After all, "Tatooine" has two suns and the heat can be unforgiving.
